Update: Company spokesman Bart de Vries said that in the United States, Foppen sells only to retailer Costco and that Costco would deal with any U.S. recall. The company left a message prior to Costco's headquarters office hours informing them on the contaminated fish. However, the message was not immediately returned.

Health authorities have reported hundreds of people in the Netherlands and the U.S. have been infected with salmonella after consuming smoked salmon produced by a Dutch fish factory.

According to the National Institute for Public Health in the Netherlands, "Some 200 people have fallen ill through contaminated salmon." In the US about 100 people were infected "by the same type of salmonella." The smoked salmon, which is produced by the Dutch fish company Foppen, is being removed from shelves.

Foppen supplies smoked salmon to several major supermarket chains including retail giant Albert Heijn, said Dutch food and consumer watchdog NVWA in a statement. Hareld Wychgel, a member of the National Institute for Public Health, believes this is "probably the tip of the iceberg. The real number of infected people is likely to be much higher," he said to BBC.

Foopen has release an apology on its website and is currently investigating the cause of the outbreak. Currently, health officials in the Netherlands are preparing to release an international recall.

Salmonellosis is an infection with the bacteria called salmonella. Salmonella germs are known to be a cause of illness for more than 100 years. It was first discovered by an American scientist named Daniel Elmer Salmon, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most individuals who are infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps within the first 12 to 72 hours. The illness can last anywhere between four to seven days. Most individuals recuperate without any treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient will need to be hospitalized. In these patients infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and into other pivotal body sites. If the individual is not treated quickly, it can lead to death.

If you think you think you have consumed Foopen's smoked salmon and your symptoms do not clear up in four to seven days contact your personal care provider.

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