An outbreak of salmonella enteritidis ST11 infections in people across Europe has been linked to eggs.
A total of 272 people became ill in late 2021 and two died according to a new report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority. 25 people were admitted to hospital.
France was the worst affected country, with 216 cases, all linked to restaurants serving eggs supplied by a single Spanish egg packing centre. The eggs originated from three Spanish farms, one testing positive for the outbreak strain. Fresh table eggs from the farms linked to the outbreak were withdrawn and redirected for use in heat-treated egg products.
Other countries also recorded cases, including the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands and Spain, although these countries did not receive eggs from the same packing centre.
While the source of infection in countries other than France could not be established, the outbreak is linked microbiologically to a historical cross-border outbreak reported by the Netherlands in 2019. The report says this suggests a wide distribution of the outbreak strain that could affect the food supply chain.