A filthy food mixer has been identified as a source of this month’s Burnside Hospital salmonella outbreak.

Sixteen people suffered salmonella poisoning after coming into contact with contaminated food at the hospital.

Hospital officials sent written warnings to more than 1600 people about possible exposure earlier this month.

SA Health’s director of food safety and nutrition, Fay Jenkins, said hospital staff were unable to clean the stab mixer food appliance properly, which had led to a build-up of food residue and bacteria.

She said the equipment had been “implicated as a source” of the contamination.

“Due to the way it was constructed, the mixer was unable to be dismantled, which meant thorough cleaning and sanitising could not occur and harmful bacteria were able to survive within the appliance,” she said.

“The stab mixer has since been removed from the Burnside War Memorial Hospital kitchen and further actions have been taken to prevent potential cross contamination.”

The mixer had been used to blend and puree food.

Jenkins told a press conference this morning that “this sort of thing should’ve been picked up”.

However, she said: “We are very happy that everything is being done by Burnside Hospital to rectify the problem and make sure it doesn’t happen again”.

Burnside Hospital chief executive Heather Messenger said in a statement that the hospital accepted responsibility for the outbreak.

“We are confident that there is now no risk of any infection via food handling and that every possible precaution is in place,” she said.

“The hospital kitchen’s food handling procedures have been reviewed and remain under constant review.

“Eastern Health Authority also advises that 30 further tests throughout the kitchen returned negative for salmonella.

“We continue to accept responsibility, keep patients informed and express our regret to those who became ill with gastro-enteritis following exposure at the hospital.”

Part of the contaminated machine.

A spokesperson for Burnside Hospital said it had not been informed of any pending legal action against the hospital by patients who had been affected by the outbreak.

Jenkins told reporters public hospitals have a thorough audit system which ensures the cleanliness of food operations, and that private hospitals – such as Burnside – also had compulsory audits, but that they were not undertaken by SA Health.

Health Minister Jack Snelling said a failure to take food preparation appliances apart for cleaning and sanitising had resulted in several salmonella cases in recent years.

“Cleaning and sanitising food preparation appliances is critical to ensure potentially infectious bacteria do not survive and contaminate food the next time the appliance is used,” he said.

“All commercial food handlers must ensure the appliances they purchase can be taken apart for thorough cleaning and sanitising.

“It is also important that kitchen staff are trained in dismantling appliances – for example mixers, blenders or juicers – to ensure they are cleaned and sanitised regularly.”

No new cases have been reported since the appliance’s removal on September 14.

“Salmonella is a very nasty disease,” Snelling told reporters.

“It leads to vomiting, and diarrhoea and, in the case of people whose immunity is compromised, can even lead to death.

“The way the mixer was made, the only way that it could be properly cleaned – they should be cleaned properly after every single use – was by a technician actually having to be brought in.”

Snelling would not reveal the brand or model of the mixer, saying he did not want people to become “complacent” because it was not only that type of machine which risked the development of salmonella.

Burnside Hospital is encouraging anyone with questions or concerns to contact one of its clinical managers on (08) 8407 8564.

SA Health and the Eastern Health Authority continue to monitor the hospital.