One person has died and 207 cases of salmonella have been confirmed in an outbreak that health officials say may be linked to eggs imported from outside the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that 47 of the confirmed cases are in London, with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) stating there is no evidence that UK-produced eggs are affected.
Outbreak Details and Hospitalisations
According to UKHSA, between August 11 last year and August 1 this year, 207 cases were confirmed across the UK: 199 in England, six in Scotland, one in Wales, and one in Northern Ireland. The regions in England with the highest number of cases are London (47) and Yorkshire and Humber (38). Those affected range from babies to people as old as 90.
More than a third of those affected (38 per cent) were admitted to hospital, and two people developed potentially life-threatening bloodstream infections. Salmonella typically causes self-limiting gastroenteritis with symptoms such as stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, or fever.
Investigations and Source
The FSA said investigations have identified links to imported eggs, mainly used by food service and catering establishments such as restaurants or cafes, as a potential source. Hannah Charles, lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections at UKHSA, said: "We're working with Food Standards Agency and other public health agencies to investigate a salmonella outbreak that may be linked to eggs imported from outside of the UK. Salmonellosis is often caused by eating or handling contaminated food and can be spread rarely from person-to-person."
Jacquelyn McCormick, head of incidents at the FSA, added: "We are working closely with the UK Health Security Agency and other partners to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis. The exact cause has not yet been identified, however investigations so far have identified links to eggs imported from outside the UK, mainly used by food service and catering establishments such as restaurants or cafes, as a potential source."
Expert and Industry Reactions
Dr Damien Tully, associate professor at the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit, said: "This is a sizeable outbreak, but the number of confirmed cases is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg. Many salmonella infections cause relatively short-lived gastrointestinal illness and people may recover without ever being tested, meaning the true number of infections associated with an outbreak can be considerably higher than the number identified through laboratory surveillance."
Nick Allen, chief executive of the British Egg Industry Council, said: "It is deeply concerning that imported eggs are once again under scrutiny in connection with a serious salmonella outbreak. We have repeatedly raised concerns about the risks associated with imported eggs and egg products with Government. British Lion egg producers have invested heavily in world-leading food safety controls, including mandatory salmonella vaccination, traceability and independent auditing – yet increasing volumes of imports produced under less stringent regulations continue to arrive. There must be a level playing field. Imported eggs and egg products entering the UK should meet standards equivalent to those expected of British producers if we are serious about protecting British consumers."
Safety Advice and Next Steps
McCormick advised: "Eggs which are thoroughly cooked and handled hygienically should not present a food safety risk. Infants, young children, pregnant people and older adults should only eat runny or raw eggs if they have a British Lion mark or are produced under the Laid in Britain egg assurance scheme. This advice does not apply to those who are severely immunocompromised and require medically supervised diets. We continue to advise people who are handling eggs, eggshells or egg packaging to always wash their hands thoroughly with warm water and soap and dry them properly afterwards."
Charles added: "There are simple steps to prevent the spread of salmonella: wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before preparing and handling food, cook food thoroughly, and if you have any symptoms, avoid handling food for others where possible." The UKHSA and FSA continue to investigate the outbreak, with no evidence linking UK-produced eggs to the cases.
