Spanish food poisoning cases linked to sandwich; one person dead

More than 40 people have fallen sick in Spain with a type of sandwich served at a restaurant suspected of causing illness.

The Regional Delegation of Health and Consumption of the Andalusian Government confirmed it is investigating 44 cases of food poisoning from beginning in January.

A woman in her 60s has died but it is unclear if this is related to the food consumed as part of the outbreak.

Health officials in Córdoba said the likely cause is E. coli or Clostridium perfringens.

The agency has not made public the name of the outlet where the poisoning started. However, it has carried out an inspection of the premises where contaminated food was served.

Investigations indicate the cause was a pringá sandwich prepared at the site, since this is the only food consumed by all those affected in the outbreak. A pringá sandwich includes meat that has been cooked slowly for a long time with some bread.

Consumer group calls for information
Facua, a consumer group, called for more information about the incident to be given to consumers.

Rubén Sánchez, Facua’s general secretary, said Andalusian officials had placed the entire hospitality sector in Córdoba under suspicion by not naming the eatery under investigation.

“With this lack of transparency, the Department of Health and Consumer Affairs is making it difficult for other consumers who have visited the establishment and had symptoms compatible with food poisoning to be aware of the investigation and bring the facts to the attention of health authorities,” he said.

“It must be clarified that it is not confirmed that the food supplied in the establishment is the origin of the poisoning or the death of the client. We consider that the establishment should remain closed until the investigation by the health administration is concluded and its connection with the outbreak is confirmed or ruled out.”

Facua said it felt “obliged to assume the responsibility” of disclosing the restaurant where it had been told affected people went. The name is Taberna La Sacristía.

Facua Córdoba previously asked Andalusian authorities to clarify in which restaurant the pringá sandwiches linked to the food poisoning were served.

The group said it was essential that information was made public, so people can check whether they went to the establishment where the infection started. These details should be released in the interest of greater transparency and care for public health.

Otherwise, there may be consumers who are ill without knowing the origin or not recognizing the symptoms they are suffering are due to an infection by the implicated bacteria.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.) 

Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/01/spanish-food-poisoning-cases-linked-to-sandwich-one-person-dead/