Campylobacteriosis outbreak associated with consumption of undercooked chicken liver pate in the East of England, September 2011: identification of a dose-response risk

A foodborne outbreak with 49 cases (22 culture positive for Campylobacter sp.) following a wedding party in the East of England was investigated. A retrospective cohort study identified an association between consumption of chicken liver pate and infection with Campylobacter jejuni/coli. There was a statistically significant association between dose (amount of chicken liver pate eaten) and the risk of disease ['tasted': odds ratio (OR) 1 center dot 5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0 center dot 04-infinity; 'partly eaten': OR 8 center dot 4, 95% CI 1 center dot 4-87 center dot 5; 'most or all eaten': OR 36 center dot 1, 95% CI 3 center dot 3-2119). The local authority found evidence that the preparation of chicken livers breached Food Standards Agency's guidelines. This epidemiological investigation established a clear dose-response relationship between consumption of chicken liver pate and the risk of infection with Campylobacter. The continuing need to raise public awareness of the risk to human health posed by undercooked chicken liver is evident.