ASAE health and safety watchdogs have confiscated 7.5 tons of meat from warehouses in the Algarve and central Portugal following the Salmonella outbreak at Portimão’s Street Food Festival that saw over 100 adults and children treated in local hospitals.
The meat – destined mainly for kebabs – was seized from a warehouse in Loulé and another in Montijo (Setúbal).
Neither warehouse supplied meat to the business at the centre of Portimão’s intoxication.
Indeed Dário Maio, proprietor of “Mister Pig”, tells us he is still hoping that toxicology exams will reveal how his meat came to be affected, as he claims it left his Faro supplier in good condition.
Meantime, Lusa reports that ASAE’s warehouse swoop has resulted in the opening of criminal proceedings.
For now, there has been no ‘naming and shaming’ though the Montijo supplier has been shut down due to hygiene failings, and “other property” to the value of €27,000 has also been apprehended.
In a statement, ASAE said it would “continue all diligences considered necessary” to discover the source of the outbreak, in order to safeguard consumer health and safety at a time when street food is very popular in festivals and outdoor events.
Needless to say, the negative publicity over Portimão’s first Street Food Festival has already prompted mayor Isilida Gomes to say “never again”.
Elsewhere, however, organisers say they are continuing to stage events, without further incidences of food poisoning.
In Portimão last week – 12 days after the mass poisoning, emanating from suckling pig sandwiches and chicken – at least three children were still being treated in hospital.
