March 19, 2009
Western Finland region pig farm hit by salmonella
A pig farm in southern Ostrobothnia, Western Finland, has been detected with salmonella.
The pig farm used feed supplied by Raisio Feed Ltd, which was recently found to have delivered salmonella-tainted feed to poultry farms.
To date, salmonella has spread to 12 egg-producing farms around Finland through contaminated feed.
Laboratory test results on Wednesday (Mar 18) confirmed the existence of salmonella in the pig farm and sanitation operations are currently underway.
Officials will now test all Ostrobotninan pig and poultry farms for salmonella. Some 800 samples have been taken so far.
The Finnish Food Safety Authority, EVIRA, said that it is highly unlikely that any more salmonella cases will be discovered on pig farms.
Farms affected by the bacteria have said they plan to seek compensation for loss of production and livestock and the costs of disinfecting their premises.
Raisio Feed said it plans to pay damages as soon as the number of contaminated farms is determined.
