Frozen chicken nuggets and strips and eggs are leading risk factors for Salmonella Heidelberg infections in Canada.
A case-control study was conducted from 1 January to 31 May 2003 to identify risk factors for S . Heidelberg infection in Canada. Controls were pair-matched by age group and telephone exchange to 95 cases. Exposures in the 7 days before illness/interview were assessed using multivariate conditional logistic regression. Consumption of home-prepared chicken nuggets and/or strips [matched odds ratio (mOR) 4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-13.8], and undercooked eggs (mOR 7.5, 95% CI 1.5-75.5) increased the risk of illness. Exposure to a farm setting lowered the risk (mOR 0.22, 95% CI 0.03-1.00). The population-attributable fraction associated with chicken nuggets/strips was 34% and with undercooked eggs was 16%. One-third of study participants did not perceive, handle or prepare chicken nuggets and strips as high-risk products, although the majority of the products on the Canadian market are raw. These findings have prompted changes in product-labelling policy and consumer education.
Currie
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A
Foodborne, Waterborne and Zoonotic Infections Division, Public Health Agency of Canada (formerly Health Canada), Guelph, Ontario, Canada. andrea_currie@phac-aspc.gc.ca
MacDougall
L
L
Aramini
J
J
Gaulin
C
C
Ahmed
R
R
Isaacs
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004531:Eggs / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control