Officials warn tomatoes linked to Salmonella outbreak as UK records 29 cases
European testing points to Sicilian cherry tomatoes as the vehicle of infection; agencies urge caution as infections spread across countries
Health authorities have issued an urgent warning after tomatoes were identified as the likely vehicle in a multi-country Salmonella outbreak that has sickened people across Europe and resulted in 29 confirmed cases in the United Kingdom.
Public-health agencies, citing testing by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said two rare strains of the bacteria — Salmonella Blockley and Salmonella Strathcona — have been associated with the recent illnesses. From January 2023 through 2024, officials reported 289 confirmed cases across 16 European countries; testing in 2023 and 2024 pointed to cherry tomatoes grown in Sicily, Italy, as the source of contamination.
The Italian Ministry of Health has implemented a sampling and testing plan aimed at detecting the bacteria in varieties of cherry tomatoes sold domestically and required local health authorities to complete at least one sampling by the end of 2024. EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that nine countries had registered 29 cases of Salmonella Strathcona since January 2025, while separate counts and surveillance have continued to track infections caused by both strains.
Health officials noted that tomatoes can be a higher-risk fresh produce item because of their texture and frequent consumption raw, which prevents heat inactivation of bacteria that cooking would otherwise provide. Salmonella is commonly carried in the guts of farm animals and is typically associated with contaminated meat, eggs and poultry, but produce can become contaminated through contact with animal feces, contaminated irrigation water or during handling and processing.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection usually appear 12 to 72 hours after exposure and include diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. Most infections resolve without specific treatment, but severe illness can occur, particularly among young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. Severe cases may require hospital care because dehydration and other complications can be life-threatening.
UKHSA data released earlier in 2025 indicated an increase in reported Salmonella infections in the first three months of the year compared with 2023 and 2024, prompting renewed attention to sources and controls for contaminated food. In 2024, more than 100 people were reported sickened in the outbreak period, with at least 14 hospitalizations recorded, according to agency summaries of the event.
Public-health officials have advised consumers to take routine precautions: thoroughly wash fresh produce, store perishable items at recommended temperatures, and follow guidance from local health authorities. They also urged health care providers to consider Salmonella in patients presenting with compatible symptoms and to report confirmed infections to public-health surveillance systems to help track the outbreak.
Investigations by national authorities and EFSA remain ongoing to refine traceback of contaminated batches, identify potential points of contamination in the supply chain and determine whether further control measures are necessary. The Italian testing program and cross-border surveillance aim to reduce further spread and prevent additional illnesses as agencies analyse laboratory and epidemiological data.