The foods in question have swiftly been removed from the market but some Origem Transmontana smoked meats and cheeses seized by Portugal’s food safety authority ASEA have been proved to be carrying deadly botulism.
Health officials recorded three cases of botulism this month traced back to dodgy foods and, after investigations, have had the meat products and cheeses under the brand Origem Transmontana withdrawn from the market.
According to a cheery statement from ASAE, in September 2015 “three cases of foodborne botulism were confirmed by lab tests, with no deaths recorded."
This type of botulism is a serious disease with digestive and neurological symptoms resulting from the ingestion of food containing toxins formed by Clostridium botulinum. The disease begins with weakness, trouble seeing, tiredness and trouble speaking. This may be followed by weakness of the arms, chest muscles, and legs.
According to health officials, they have determined that the origin of cases of disease were associated with consumption of smoked sausages marketed under the Origem Transmontana name.
As a result it was decided “immediately to withdrawal the suspect products from the supply chain.”
Health authorities also generously decided to inform the public so that any meat and cheese with Origem Transmontana on it should not be eaten.
These products are distributed mostly in the centre and north of Portugal and some inevitably will be in people’s fridges waiting to be eaten.
"The competent authorities remain vigilant and are cooperating to resolving this situation," according to a less-than-reassuring note from the health department.
'Origem Transmontana' is the brand of a company based in Bragança, Trás os Montes in the very north of Portugal which is engaged in the production, promotion and marketing of traditional products from the ‘transmontana’ region.
For further information, the company's website is :
http://www.origemtransmontana.pt
