Lettuce linked to 128 salmonella cases

Contaminated lettuce has caused 10 cases of salmonella poisoning, including nine in Victoria, with another 118 suspected cases around Australia.

Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services is still investigating the source of the contamination, caused by the Salmonella anatum strain of the virus in salad leaf products produced by Tripod Farmers at Bacchus Marsh, west of Melbourne.

"The confirmed cases have the same genetic fingerprint as that which was found in the affected products," health department spokesman Bram Alexander told AAP.

Further testing will determine if the outstanding salmonella cases are linked to Tripod salad products, and it's possible other new cases may come forward.

The affected products have a best before date of February 14.

Tripod Farmers has voluntarily recalled a variety of its products, sold through Coles and Woolworths supermarkets and sold to the food trade.

It has also embarked on a major cleaning program in its Bacchus Marsh factory but the source of the outbreak still has not been identified.

Farmers are pleading with consumers to keep buying fresh and pre-packaged locally grown produce in the wake of the outbreak.

Vegetable grower body AUSVEG says people should be aware that food safety incidents are exceedingly rare.

"This recent recall is not indicative of a systematic food safety issue in the vegetable industry. It is limited to one supplier and all affected product has been taken off the shelves," spokeswoman Dr Jessica Lye said in a statement.

Full Tripod Farmers recall details: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/foodrecalls/recalls/Pages/default.aspx

SALMONELLA CASES BY STATE

VIC - 9, with 91 probable cases

SA - 12 probable cases

QLD - 8 probable cases

NSW - 1, 5 probable cases

WA - 2 probable cases

ACT, NT, TAS - 0