Monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, United States · 2021 to 2022

Multi-country monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to chocolate products, Europe and North America, 2022

ECDC and EFSA reported 324 cases, 266 confirmed and 58 probable, as of 18 May 2022, in 13 EU/EEA countries and the UK, with cases also identified in Canada, Switzerland and the United States. 86.3 percent of infections were in children aged 10 or under, 41.3 percent of cases with information were hospitalised and no deaths were reported. Belgian authorities withdrew the production authorisation of the Arlon plant on 8 April 2022 and the company recalled all batches produced there.¹

Counts as reported on 18 May 2022.¹ Food vehicle: Specific chocolate products manufactured at a processing plant in Arlon, Belgium.

Timeline

1. December 2021Salmonella detected in samples taken at the plant between December 2021 and January 2022, according to ECDC and EFSA.¹
2. 2 April 2022National authorities began issuing public health warnings.¹
3. 8 April 2022Belgian food safety authorities withdrew the plant's production authorisation and the company recalled all Arlon batches.¹
4. 18 May 2022ECDC and EFSA published the first update of the rapid outbreak assessment.¹

Regulatory and legal outcomes

1. 8 April 2022Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (as reported by ECDC and EFSA). Withdrew the production authorisation of the Arlon processing plant.¹

Sources

1. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and European Food Safety Authority, Rapid outbreak assessment, first update: Multi-country Salmonella outbreak linked to chocolate products (18 May 2022)