Germany has reported a drop in outbreaks for 2023, but more people were sick than the year before.
In 2023, the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) received 190 reports of foodborne outbreaks that caused 2,248 illnesses, 283 hospitalizations and 13 deaths.
In 2022, 211 outbreaks were recorded. There were at least 1,488 illnesses, 268 hospitalizations and eight deaths associated with it.
In 2023, Salmonella was the most common cause of outbreaks, followed by Campylobacter. In 19 epidemics the pathogen was unknown.
Major outbreak of norovirus berries
A total of 18 outbreaks met the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) criteria for high-evidence outbreaks. In these incidents, a link between food and cases was considered sufficiently proven. In 14 outbreaks, evidence arose from detection of the pathogen in the food or its ingredients. In two outbreaks, the pathogen was found in the food chain or the environment. In a further two outbreaks, an epidemiological investigation linked illness to suspected food.
High-evidence outbreaks resulted in 925 illnesses, 68 hospitalizations and three deaths.
Salmonella was responsible for ten of these outbreaks. Three were caused by Salmonella Typhimurium, two each by Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Senftenberg, and one each by Salmonella Adelaide and Salmonella Oranienburg. A total of 146 people became ill and one died.
Norovirus caused four outbreaks, with 678 illnesses. Bacillus cereus was linked to two cases, with 75 cases. Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes each caused one outbreak, with 23 and three cases respectively. Two people died in the Listeria outbreak.
The largest outbreak, with 538 reported cases, was caused by norovirus. One sick person had to be hospitalized; there were no deaths. The outbreak occurred in several catering establishments and was related to the consumption of a dessert with berry mix. The berries came from Ukraine, Turkey, Poland and Serbia and were packed in Belgium. Another norovirus outbreak, involving 65 sick people, was caused by yogurt made with frozen, unheated raspberries.
The second largest outbreak, with 70 cases, was caused by Bacillus cereus. It was paired with boiled rice.
Details about high evidence outbreaks
Four outbreaks were caused by foods in the “vegetables and vegetable products” category and three each in the “grain products/rice/seeds/legumes” and “pork products” categories.
Seven outbreaks affected different states and the causative food was consumed in various locations in Germany. Two of these outbreaks also affected other European countries.
Four outbreaks were traced to exposure in the catering industry. In two outbreaks, a ‘hospital/medical facility’ and a ‘takeaway/fast food snack bar’ were named as places of consumption.
Cross-contamination, inadequate heat treatment, failure to adhere to storage conditions and an infected worker contributed to outbreaks.
In 172 outbreaks, the evidence for a link between food and the diseases was low.
Campylobacter caused 42, with 122 cases. Salmonella Enteritidis caused 28 with 250 illnesses and four deaths. Salmonella Typhimurium was behind 17 with 128 infections. Other types of Salmonella were associated with 10 outbreaks involving 83 cases.
Three Listeria outbreaks affected 25 people, with six deaths. In eight outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), there were 22 cases. Yersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus enterotoxin, Cryptosporidium, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E were also listed as responsible for some outbreaks.
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