Health authorities in Spain are investigating a Salmonella outbreak that has affected 162 people who attended the Trasan Fest music and food festival in late June, according to multiple media outlets. The event took place on June 27 and 28 in Oza Cesuras, located in A Coruña province.
Of those infected, 22 festival goers required hospitalization for treatment. The remaining cases are being monitored by health officials as the investigation continues.
The General Directorate of Public Health of the Sergas, which oversees Galician health services, has issued a health warning regarding the outbreak. Initial investigations suggest that contaminated food from the festival may be responsible for the infections.
Health officials have identified a food stall selling tortillas as a potential source of contamination. Tortillas are a traditional Spanish dish prepared with eggs and potatoes. Epidemiological surveys are being conducted among affected individuals to determine the exact origin of the outbreak.
Festival organizers have released a statement acknowledging the incident and expressing regret. They indicated they are working with authorities to identify the source of contamination, which they believe may be linked to raw materials provided by one of their suppliers.
The consumer advocacy group FACUA Galicia has called for expanded food safety measures at cultural events. The organization is requesting that the Galician Ministry of Health conduct inspections of all food establishments, food trucks, and mobile vendors operating at music festivals and similar cultural gatherings.
FACUA has also informed affected individuals that they may be entitled to compensation for health impacts related to the outbreak. Those seeking compensation will need to provide medical documentation of their illness and evidence of consuming the suspected food items.
Salmonella remains a significant public health concern in Spain. According to 2023 data, Salmonella was identified as the most frequent cause of food-related outbreaks, with 350 documented incidents. These outbreaks affected 2,747 patients, resulted in 356 hospitalizations, and caused four deaths.
The largest single Salmonella outbreak in 2023 affected 159 people. Many of these incidents were traced to consumption of eggs and egg-based products, highlighting ongoing challenges with food safety protocols. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella traced to contaminated eggs.
