PUBLIC HEALTH ADVICE
Test results have confirmed that a brand of powder some people add to Asian cooking has led to the hospitalisation of five people in Sydney’s south west.
Dr Jeremy McAnulty, NSW Health’s Director of Communicable Diseases, said that patients had reported adding the product, sold as ‘Goldfish brand Nutre Powder’, to their food shortly before developing symptoms.
Five people have been admitted to Liverpool Hospital suffering the symptoms of sodium nitrite poisoning. All patients have now recovered and have been discharged from hospital.
Dr McAnulty said ingestion of the substance caused a condition called methaemoglobinaemia – a disorder of the blood.
Symptoms usually occur within minutes of ingestion, are severe and can be fatal. They include:
· shortness of breath
· racing heart
· tiredness
· blue skin
· vomiting
· loss of consciousness.
Immediate treatment with an antidote counteracts the effect of the poison in the body.
Dr McAnulty said patients report adding Goldfish Nutre Powder to food they prepared at home.
“Testing of a sample of the Goldfish Nutre Powder ordered by the NSW Food Authority showed that it contains the chemical sodium nitrite. Adding this chemical to your food can lead to serious poisoning.
“The important message for the community is not to add Goldfish brand Nutre Powder to food,” he said.
Emergency departments throughout NSW have been advised to be on the lookout for people displaying symptoms of methaemoglobinaemia.
Additionally, NSW Health has contacted other states and territories to advise them of these cases.
A recall of the product is being undertaken by Victorian Health authorities.
Links to the relevant fact sheet from NSW Health:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2006/methae_fs.html
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/2006/index.html#
NSW Health Media
Office – (02) 9391 9121
After hours – (02) 9214 9972
