Salmonella outbreak sickens hundreds in Europe. Sicilian tomatoes are the chief suspect

Published on 24/10/2025 - 13:32 GMT+2

Hundreds of group crossed Europe person fallen sick pinch nutrient poisoning complete nan past 2 years – and tainted tomatoes are nan premier suspect, wellness officials warned.

As of precocious September, location person been 510 confirmed cases of a circumstantial strain of Salmonella germs successful 18 European countries since 2023, according to nan European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Salmonella is 1 of nan astir communal types of nutrient poisoning, causing tummy pain, diarrhoea, and fever.

The ECDC believes cherry tomatoes from nan Mediterranean land of Sicily are nan “primary nutrient vehicle” driving nan outbreak, which is linked to a strain of nan germs known arsenic Salmonella Strathcona.

Investigators traced nan strain to a herb husbandman successful Sicily. They recovered nan germs successful a sample of irrigation h2o there, which “confirmed nan domiciled of nan situation successful herb contamination,” nan agency said.

Over nan years-long outbreak, Italy has reported nan astir cases (123), followed by Germany (113), Austria (76), nan United Kingdom (73), and France (43).

Thirteen different European countries – Croatia, nan Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, nan Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden – person reported less than 15 cases each.

The outbreak has besides crossed nan Atlantic, pinch nan United States signaling 24 cases and Canada 10.

It’s not nan first clip Sicily’s tomatoes person been identified arsenic a culprit of nutrient poisoning pinch this strain of Salmonella. They were linked to an outbreak successful Denmark successful 2011, nan ECDC said.

The agency called for much investigation to corroborate that nan Sicilian tomatoes are so nan “vehicle of infection” successful nan outbreak, and said much should beryllium done to beforehand stricter bacterial power during nan herb harvesting season.