Salmonellae found in 18 out of 50 pastry samples in Chelyabinsk

Salmonellae have been found in 18 out of 50 pastry samples taken in the Chelyabinsk region by local consumer rights protection agency, a spokesman for the agency told Itar-Tass on Tuesday. The samples were taken after a mass poisoning reported from Chelyabinsk on May 18-19. According to preliminary information, the people got poisoned after eating cream puffs manufactured by a Chelyabinsk-based company, which rents production facilities in the town of Kopeisk. According to the consumer rights protection agency, as many as 67 people, including 14 children, have been hospitalized in Chelyabinsk and Kopeisk. “Laboratory tests have proved salmonellosis in four cases,” the spokesman said. Fifteen cases of administrative offense have been opened. Two of the patients are still in grave condition, according to a spokeswoman for the Chelyabinsk city health department. The pastry shop in Kopeisk has been closed. Its all pastry output (more than 70 kilograms) was removed from sale. A criminal case was opened on charges of the production and sales of goods not meeting safety requirements.