About 70 Salmonella infections are linked to eating eggs in Belgium.
At the beginning of 2025, the National Reference Center for Salmonella at Sciensano discovered an increase in reports of a certain type of salmonella. A study to determine the origin of the turnout was started by the Federal Agency for the Security of the Food Chain (FASFC), the Flemish Ministry of Care and Sciensano, the Belgian National Public Health Institute.
The results showed that eggs were the cause of the outbreak of the salmonellose. The products involved have been called by consumers.
Between the beginning of this year and 17 February, Sciensano was able to link 67 cases of Salmonellose to the outbreak, mainly in Flanders.
The Flemish Care and Sciensano department asked patients about food consumption in the days before the start of the symptoms, as well as where food was purchased. The consumption of eggs turned out to be a common factor.
Joris Moonens, spokesperson for the Flemish Department Care, said: “The information provided by patients is essential for research into the epidemic. The Flemish Care and Sciensano department want the patients who have worked together. We hope that all sick patients will recover soon. ‘
Moonens told News for food safety That the outbreak was caused by Salmonella Enteritidis.
Of the 67 patients, 37 women and 30 were men. It is not known exactly how many cases of hospital treatment need, but a large part had to be admitted to people over the age of 65. No dead are registered.
Fourteen patients were younger than 10, 16 were from 10 to 20 years old, 21 years old and 16 years old and 16 were older than 65.
Salmonella found on the farm
FASFC followed the products and visited a laying hen farm to take samples. The same tribe of Salmonella as in the patients was found in these samples, which confirmed the suspected source.
Affected eggs have an expiry date between January 27 and March 24, 2025 and are stamped with the code “1-BE-306401”.
DEPO-E-CV attracts the free-range eggs with this code from the sale and reminds them at consumers. They were sold at various points of sale from the beginning of January to 24 February 2025.
Eggs are blocked in the Laying them Farm and in the customer’s company. Consumers in possession of these eggs are asked not to consume them and bring them back to the point of sale.
Kathy Brison, spokesperson for FASFC, said: “Thanks to the fast action and constructive cooperation with the Flemish Care and Sciensano department, we were able to identify the cause of the contamination. The Salmonella bacteria are found both in the eggs and on the scale. It is important to cook the eggs thoroughly before they eat them and wash your hands regularly during the preparation and especially after breaking them. “
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