Investigation of a foodborne outbreak caused by Salmonella Enteritidis in confectionery during a sports event in Berlin, July 2006

During summer 2006 at least 46 participants of a sports event in Berlin, at which confectionery (eclairs) were sold, fell ill with gastrointestinal symptoms. The results of the microbiological examination of the confectionery sold at the event and additional samples from the manufacturing pastry shop indicated that the eclairs were contaminated with Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Enteritidis phagetype 4 (PT 4). In addition, results of phenotypic and genotypic characterisations showed that the same strain was also detected in stool samples of the patients and of the confectioner and on utensils at the pastry shop. Insufficient cooling of the eclairs during transport and before sale could have enhanced bacterial growth, This paper describes the outbreak investigations and their results. Moreover, it demonstrates that for determination of the food source the public health and the food control authorities need to collaborate closely and have to react in a fast and competent manner