Ayios Nicolaos water withdrawn in health scare

AYIOS NICOLAOS mineral water was yesterday withdrawn from the market as a precaution by the KEO Group, after a virus was detected in a batch of 1.5 litre bottles.

The Health Services of the Ministry of Health said in a statement that they had immediately withdrawn the specific batch, “in a plastic bottle of 1. 5 litres with batch number L14208 and the expiry date 28.08.2009”.

“According to the results of microbiological tests performed in laboratories accredited by the State Lab, the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in the samples, which makes the results non-compliant with current legislation,” the statement read.

The Health Services have already informed the distribution company, which has begun the withdrawal.

Elias Sozou, Commercial Manager at the KEO Group, said last night: “We apologise for this inconvenience and we assure the public that we have contacted all affiliated parties for the withdrawal of the water from the market. We withdrew the water from the market before we were asked to do so.

“New production of the water will begin within the next few days in co-operation with the Health Services.”

Anyone who has any of the bottled water at home is encouraged to avoid drinking it and return it to the point of purchase.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is widely distributed in soil, water, sewage and plants, and is a common human intestinal bacterium. It also causes disease in humans, certain animals, insects and plants. Infection is usually restricted to hospitalised patients with predisposing conditions (it causes 14 per cent of all hospital acquired infections) but it is also associated with 5 per cent of all community-acquired infections.

The decision comes after a similar scare saw another batch of Ayios Nicolaos withdrawn earlier this month.

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