Three people were taken to hospital after an outbreak of potentially deadly salmonella poisoning in northern Tasmania. Twenty confirmed cases of salmonella have been reported to the Public and Environmental Health Service in three days.

The infection has been traced back to two bakeries in Launceston, which have since closed voluntarily. Consumers were warned today not to eat anything produced by the Trevallyn Bakery or the Sugar Shack Bakery.

Eric Walker, owner of the Trevallyn Bakery, told ABC radio it was a "terrible situation".

“A number of smaller Launceston food outlets have also been supplied by the Trevallyn and Sugar Shack bakeries and these may also be affected,” said Director of Public Health Roscoe Taylor.