February 10, 2006

Salmonella detected in Swedish hog feed

In a USDA report on Swedish grain and feed released on Feb 2, salmonella was detected in hog feed from Sweden's Lantmannen feed company in December 2005 and January 2006. The report said the contamination was detected in a Lantmannen feed plant in southern Sweden and was likely due to contaminated rapeseed raw material from a Polish feed plant.

According to USDA, since 1983, Sweden has made it a requirement for imports of fresh or frozen beef, pork, poultry and eggs from the EU and other countries to be certified free from salmonella. Swedish farmers have been complying to requirements from the voluntary programme, Swedish Farmers' Disease Control Program, in addition to government regulations, causing the incidence of salmonella to be less than 1 percent. 

The report said the Swedish Board of Agriculture (BOA) has forced Lantmannen to stop hog feed production at the same plant as of Jan 25 this year. The BOA will allow hog feed production to resume at the plant once it is fully convinced that the plant is free of salmonella.

USDA said the latest outbreak has not changed the fact that salmonella prevalence is still low in Sweden. However, the outbreak should cause Swedish farmers and the BOA to review current rules for the control of feed.

For the full USDA report, click here.