Eight cases of Salmonella senftenberg infection in infants were identi
fied in the first half of 1995 in England, five were indistinguishable
S. senftenberg strains. A case-control study showed an association be
tween illness and consumption of one brand of baby cereal (P = 0.03).
The cereal manufacturer reported isolating S. senftenberg in June 1994
from an undistributed cereal batch. Outbreak strains and the cereal s
train were all plasmid-free in contrast to other human isolates of S.
senftenberg in the same period. Changes in the production process were
implemented to prevent further contamination. Surveillance centres sh
ould strengthen the detection and investigation of outbreaks of gastro
intestinal infection in susceptible groups, especially young children.
In this outbreak, the study of only five cases led to identification
of the vehicle of infection. Even when few cases are reported, epidemi
ological investigation in conjunction with molecular typing may lead t
o public health action which prevents continuing or future outbreaks.