Parents of children who have consumed boats of lot 236 of Blemil Plus 1 milk and are affected by salmonellosis I think they are not receiving a clear message from the authorities about how they have to act.
It is not surprising that we are already in the press with the news that the parents of a baby affected by salmonellosis have denounced the Ordesa laboratories, producers of the suspect batch of Blemil Plus 1.
However, the company ensures that there is no relationship between the outbreak and the removed lot, adding that there is analysis of external laboratories that certify it.
Case history
So far the messages of public authorities are shamefully confusing and lukewarm. First, when the company detected a bad seal of lot 236, they merely indicated that it would be taken to pharmacies to return it and not be consumed. Not an instruction to go to a review or to analyze the contents of the boats.
There was apparently no the slightest concern about possible contamination of the product or, as far as I have been able to find out, analysis of all the units collected to verify their status, nor a rigorous control of the total withdrawal of the product and its destruction after the analytical. Nothing at all. Tranquility.
When it has been declared the salmonellosis outbreak in infants, the instructions remain the same, do not use and take to the pharmacy to be removed.
Moreover, they remain without the analysis results are made public on the boats collected neither by the company nor by the affected families, but it seems that there are serious indications that this milk is the cause of the problem, because it follows, although it is not affirmed, that the sick children had consumed it. But it is not known for sure, yet confirmed. The authorities instill concern and the company calls for tranquility. What should we believe?
What I don't understand is the reason why nothing is known, neither of the boats collected before the outbreak was declared, nor of the time it has taken to relate them, nor of what is known for sure. The feeling of concern and indignation of the parents must be very great.
Day by day, the instructions are still returning the boat. There is no clear message to those affected, both for those who have had their sick child without a diagnosis of salmonellosis and for those who do have insurance. Even in our blog a reader told us that her son had been very sick and had consumed precisely milk from this lot.
The information is scarce. We do not know exactly the protocols that have been applied or those that are applied now. An affected family must feel very lost. But my impression reinforces my idea that the controls are insufficient.
I found a Facebook group with the name "Affected by Salmonella" but it still has little movement, however, I suppose it can serve as a start for contact between those affected.
And what do we do if our child has had gastroenteritis or salmonella and consumed this product?
What can be advised in these cases? The authorities do not offer us a clear message or instructions for all suspected cases to be treated and analyzed, it is not even clear that the outbreak has this demonstrable origin. And it seems that there are already 71 confirmed cases.
I would say that, with the results of the analysis and with the milk cans or the proof of purchase, go to the local health authority demanding all confirmations and documentation to show what is going to be done. I would not accept promises or vagueness, really. And even if the affected one is a single lot, I would change brands or propose to relate if possible.
What I have nothing clear is to return, without more, the boat to the pharmacy. It is necessary to keep it so that it is analyzed or demand guarantees of the process to be carried out if it is delivered. It is the proof that the sick baby has consumed it and that it is that specific boat that must be analyzed, so, to deliver it without documentation proving the process to be done to investigate that particular boat would be to lose a test. I would like a total guarantee.
One can also contact the Ministry of Health, the National Epidemiology Center, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition and the OCU.
Also, if your answers are not satisfactory, you can contact a lawyer so that you can investigate if the problem has this cause and, if so, claim the responsibility of the damage caused to the company or organizations.
The first complaint
Some parents have already reported it. Víctor Sánchez and Adeline Alcántara have denounced Laboratorios Ordesa because they believe that their son suffers from this problem because he has consumed the withdrawn milk.
His little boy, who has only been a month and a half old and has been taking this brand since he was born, has been admitted to the Hospital de la Fé in Valencia since this morning after many visits due to previous stomach problems.
I think they are an example, they have taken the initiative given the contradictory messages of the authorities. I deeply want your child to get well soon and recover without sequelae from this health problem. And, of course, if the cause is this milk, all possible investigations are carried out, measures are taken against those responsible, be it the pharmacy, laboratories or authorities, and above all, that real measures are taken so that this can't happen anymore.
It is difficult to give an instruction manual to those affected, given the little information there is so far. If your child has salmonellosis or gastroenteritis and has taken Blemil Plus 1 milk (lot 236 especially) I hope these general instructions can help you.
