Queensland Health has issued a warning concerning two homemade, unlabelled food items believed to be circulating in Logan. The products in question include a homemade capsicum and chilli paste, as well as a homemade marinated eggplant that incorporates the same paste.
This alert follows an incident where five individuals from Logan, including a child, were hospitalized last week with symptoms typically associated with brodifacoum ingestion. Brodifacoum is a substance commonly found in rat poison.
In collaboration with Queensland Police, an investigation revealed that three of the affected individuals had consumed these homemade products. Subsequent testing of the product samples confirmed the presence of brodifacoum.
The potentially contaminated items are believed to have been either purchased or given as gifts in the Logan area since mid-September.
Queensland Health advises anyone who has these products to dispose of them immediately to prevent animals from accessing them.
The Logan community is urged to remain vigilant for symptoms of brodifacoum poisoning, especially if they suspect they have consumed products matching the described items recently.
Chief Health Officer Dr Catherine McDougall said there did not appear to be broad risk to the community.
“No other possible cases of brodifacoum poisoning have been identified since the five individuals were reported last week,” Dr McDougall said.
“The identified products are homemade and do not appear to be widely distributed. It is believed they are available only very locally in the Logan community.
“We do not believe there is a widespread risk to the broader community however we encourage people in the Logan area to be alert.
“The investigation remains ongoing, we are continuing to make further enquiries and will keep the community updated.”
If people believe they may have consumed the identified products or are experiencing bleeding that can’t otherwise be explained, they should visit their local GP, local satellite hospital or urgent care clinic for testing, or call 13 HEALTH for further advice.
Brodifacoum is the active ingredient in rat poison that inhibits Vitamin K, which is essential for blood to clot.
It can cause bleeding-related complications if ingested by humans.
Symptoms include bleeding gums, unexplained bruises, blood in urine or stool and swelling of joints.
