McCain products here safe
By M K Anwar

Popular French fries brand McCain has shut down its plant in France after the discovery of Legionnaires' disease in its cooling system.

McCain is widely sold at department stores throughout Brunei.

According to AFP, the regional government in Lille France has ordered the shut down of the McCain factory as precautionary measures after a small quantity of the deadly bacteria was found in one of the plant's refrigeration towers late December.

Company officials meanwhile said that there was no danger to consumers' health.

One third of the global supply of French Fries is from McCain.

They have assured customers that McCain products have not been affected at all.

Meanwhile, Borneo Bulletin was told that there is no need to worry about McCain products distributed locally, as they are produced at a factory in Canada.

Legionnaires' disease was first discovered in 1976 and its name taken from an American 'Legion' convention where it was first discovered.

It causes high fever, dry cough, lung congestion and subsequent pneumonia.

The disease commonly spreads through contaminated air conditioners and ventilators.

Treatment normally comes in the form of antibiotics given to affected patients.

So far the disease has killed 10 people since its outbreak. A total of 76 people have contracted it in France since late November 2003.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin