Top Enders have been given the all clear to resume eating raw bean sprouts after a recent spike in Salmonella infections.

The NT Department of Health, working in conjunction with SA Health, is now satisfied the source of a recent outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul has been identified.

Some 120 people in the Darwin area have been affected by the bacterial infection since the beginning of April.

A combined effort involving SA Health and local councils resulted in all bean sprout processors in South Australia being given the all clear last week.

While South Australians got the green light to resume eating bean sprouts last Friday the NT Department of Health opted to wait until this week to provide similar advice.

Head of Disease Surveillance at the Centre for Disease Control, Dr Peter Markey, said because of Darwin’s distance from the South Australian supply network NT Health wanted to be absolutely confident any potentially infected bean sprouts were no longer on supermarket shelves.

Dr Markey said it was possible further cases of salmonella notifications could be reported in coming weeks but these would be associated with previous consumption.

“We have worked closely with our colleagues in South Australia since it became apparent that we were both seeing a notable increase in the number of Salmonella Saintpaul notifications,” Dr Markey said.

“Initial investigations pointed to raw bean sprouts as the cause. Those investigations led authorities to a factory in South Australia which supplies bean sprouts to both SA and the NT.

“As the investigation progressed a positive sample was identified at this particular outlet. We have now been given an assurance by our South Australian colleagues that there are no further issues with bean sprouts from this outlet.

“So, we are now confident raw bean sprouts purchased this week are safe to eat.  Those purchased previously should be discarded or cooked, according to our previous advice. ” Dr Markey said.

He also warned that because bean sprouts had been linked with outbreaks of food-borne illness in the past people with immune compromise and pregnant women should cook bean sprouts rather than eating them raw.

Dr Markey said Salmonella infection resulted in fever, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, headache, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.

Media contact: Fred McCue 0401 119 792