UK patient count in Salmonella outbreak passes 600

More than 600 people have fallen sick as part of three Salmonella outbreaks in the United Kingdom and two have died.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), and others are investigating the Salmonella Enteritidis clusters which have affected 622 people.

More than 170 ill people have been interviewed and 143 reported eating food prepared outside the home in the week prior to symptom onset. Investigations have linked 47 cases to 11 businesses, with at least 24 infected people eating dishes containing eggs. The eggs come from multiple sources, but two large importers are being investigated further.

Genetic relatedness of the clusters and food information suggests illnesses are associated with eating imported eggs at small cafés, restaurants, and takeaways.

Targeted sampling is ongoing to confirm the source but officials warned many samples would be required to achieve confidence in results. Defra’s UK Office for SPS and Trade Assurance oversees market access arrangements for imported food.

European impact
In the first cluster, there have been 391 confirmed cases and one death. Sample dates range from Aug. 11, 2025, to Sept. 8, 2026. In the past month, 132 infections have been reported in England.

Sick people range in age from younger than 1 to 90 years old with a median age of 30. Of 173 cases with available information, 45 have been admitted to hospitals. 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is also monitoring this Salmonella Enteritidis sequence type 11 cluster. At least 34 people have been hospitalized.

In July, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) restarted an investigation into a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that began in spring 2025. There are 111 patients with 31 in 2026, including 10 in June and eight in July. Only seven patient interview questionnaires have been received by RIVM, with the agency saying it is too early to draw any conclusions about the source.

There are also sick people in Belgium, Austria, Denmark, France, and Germany.

England and the rest of the UK
In the second cluster, there are 189 cases in England. Sample dates range from May 27, 2025, to Sept. 2, 2026. Patients are aged between younger than 1 to 92 with a median of 29 years old. Of 52 patients with information available, 24 were admitted to hospitals.

In a third cluster, there are 42 cases and one death, with sample dates ranging from Jan. 27 to Aug. 24, 2026. Cases range in age from younger than 1 to 87 with a median of 32 years old. Seven people have been hospitalized.

In Scotland, there are 15 confirmed cases. Fourteen are in the first cluster and one in the third cluster reported by UKHSA. Sample dates are from April 1 to Aug. 14, 2026. Patients range in age from 2 to 78 with a median of 36 years old and 10 are female. Several people have reported bloody diarrhea but none have been hospitalized because of salmonellosis. There are two Scottish cases from 2025 in the second cluster.

Wales has 10 cases in the first cluster and two in the second. One patient in the first cluster lives in Northern Ireland. There are also two illnesses in either Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Listeria guidance
The FSA is also seeking views on revised listeriosis guidance for health and social care settings. A consultation covers England, Northern Ireland, and Wales and is open until Dec. 16, 2026.

The main changes clarify legal obligations for food businesses operating within health and social care settings, update the Listeria risky foods list, and bring legislative references up to date.

There are also new sections on registration of food companies operating within care settings, food safety culture, and on incidents in the care sector.