The bacterium listeria has been found on surfaces in the kitchen at Norrland University Hospital. Sanitisation of the kitchen is currently underway and parts of production have been relocated.
There are currently no known cases of listeria infection among patients at the hospital, and for those admitted, the region says it does not pose a risk to eat the food.
"We are grateful that it was discovered in time, so we can take action before anyone is affected. Further testing will now be carried out to ensure it is not present elsewhere," says Mikael Persson, head of internal services for Region Västerbotten, in a press release.
Listeria is a commonly occurring bacterium found in, among other things, water and soil, and also in small quantities in food. It is harmless to most people but can cause serious illness in individuals with weakened immune systems, including pregnant women and the elderly.
