Sweden
STOCKHOLM – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Sprouted Seeds Affects Over 500 in Europe
A large-scale Salmonella outbreak affecting 509 people across nine European countries has been traced to contaminated sprouted seeds. The outbreak, which began in January 2023 and continues through January 2025, has predominantly impacted Norway with 257 cases, followed by Sweden, Finland, and Germany.
Health investigators have confirmed sprouted seeds as the source of infection through epidemiological evidence, genomic sequencing, and food tracing methods. The contaminated seeds have been linked to an Italian supplier that sources from three growers in the same region. Investigators have not yet determined the exact point of contamination or whether cross-contamination occurred within the supply chain.
The outbreak is notable for involving multiple Salmonella strains, some rarely encountered in Europe. Collaboration between national health authorities, particularly through sharing whole genome sequencing data at the European Union level, enabled investigators to connect these various strains to a single source.
Public health officials warn that Salmonella can cause serious illness, especially in vulnerable populations including infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. These at-risk groups are advised to avoid consuming sprouted seeds unless thoroughly cooked.
As the investigation continues, health authorities anticipate additional cases may emerge until all contamination points are identified and properly addressed. Sprouted seed producers have been urged to strictly adhere to food safety protocols to prevent further distribution of contaminated products.
India
SOUTH INDIA – Rare Case of Myocarditis Linked to Salmonella Weltevreden Infection
A 43-year-old healthy male doctor from South India has become the first documented case of myocarditis associated with Salmonella Weltevreden infection in the region. The patient initially presented with a month of intermittent fever that intensified two days before hospitalization, accompanied by muscle pain and headache, according to a case report in Frontiers in Medicine.
Diarrhea developed a day after admission, and subsequent stool culture identified Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden as the causative agent. Medical professionals noted that the physician had a genetic predisposition to inflammatory bowel disease and had recently used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, factors that may have increased his vulnerability to this non-typhoidal Salmonella infection.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that the infection remained susceptible to ciprofloxacin, which is increasingly uncommon as most reported Weltevreden cases now show resistance to this antibiotic. The patient successfully recovered following ciprofloxacin treatment and was discharged with follow-up instructions.
Salmonella Weltevreden has emerged as a significant foodborne pathogen, particularly in Southeast Asia. While typically associated with gastroenteritis, it can cause invasive infections in immunocompromised individuals and newborns.
This case is an example of the importance of recognizing that non-typhoidal Salmonella infections can lead to serious systemic complications even in otherwise healthy individuals. Medical experts have stressed the need for ongoing monitoring of antimicrobial resistance patterns and strict food safety measures to control outbreaks of these emerging pathogens.
Mexico
ACAPULCO – Food Poisoning Outbreak Disrupts Mexican Open
Several top seeds at the recent Mexican Open tennis tournament were forced to withdraw due to food poisoning, significantly impacting the competition’s draw.
Fourth-seeded Holger Rune managed to play only three games before retiring from his match. He later confirmed his condition on social media, expressing his disappointment: “Furious and so sad at the same time. Had a food poisoning and was unable to play today. One of my favorite places is Mexico and I love this tournament. Absolutely not the way I wanted it to end.”
Third seed Tommy Paul and world No. 5 Casper Ruud both withdrew before their scheduled round-of-16 matches, giving their opponents automatic advancement to the quarterfinals. Paul cited stomach issues as the reason for his withdrawal, while Ruud shared on Instagram that he had been battling illness for the past day.
“I was hoping to overcome this stomach illness that showed up yesterday and tried everything I could to be able to play tonight, until the very last moment,” Ruud wrote in his statement.
The tournament experienced additional upheaval when top seed Alexander Zverev was eliminated by teenage qualifier Learner Tien in straight sets. Reports suggested Zverev may have also been affected by food poisoning.
American player Alex Michelsen showed signs of illness during his three-set loss to Denis Shapovalov, requiring medical attention during the match. Fifth seed Ben Shelton was also eliminated from the competition, losing to David Goffin, though his defeat was not attributed to illness.
Indonesia
JAKARTA – Food Safety Concerns Emerge in Indonesia’s National Free Meal Program
Multiple incidents of food poisoning and quality issues have been reported in connection with President Prabowo Subianto’s recently launched free nutritious meal program for schools across Indonesia.
The most recent case occurred last Wednesday in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi, where 12 elementary school pupils were hospitalized after showing symptoms of food poisoning. According to the head of the Takalar Health Agency, the affected students came from three different elementary schools in the region. The meals provided included rice, fish, tofu, vegetables, and bananas.
“We have taken samples from the batch for analysis,” the official stated. She noted that authorities could not yet confirm the government-provided meals as the definitive cause, since only 12 out of 97 students who consumed the meals exhibited symptoms. “There are several possibilities. The incident could also have been caused by the drinking water the students brought from home,” she added.
This marks the fifth food safety incident linked to the program since its implementation last month. On the previous day, the East Java Ombudsman discovered spoiled fruits and vegetables being served to students at SMP 13 Surabaya state junior high school. Their investigation revealed additional concerns, including the kitchen’s failure to inquire about student allergies or gather feedback on the menu, resulting in significant food waste. The Ombudsman also identified that the kitchen lacked proper systems for evaluating the nutritional value of meals or assessing their impact on students.
Last week, two separate food poisoning cases were documented. In Empat Lawang regency, South Sumatra, eight pupils from SD 7 Tebing Tinggi state elementary school required medical attention after displaying food poisoning symptoms from their packaged meals. Social media videos showed these meals, which included fried fish fillet, stir-fried vermicelli noodles, fried tofu, and papaya, contained maggots.
In a separate incident, 29 students from SD Katolik Andaluri Catholic elementary school in Sumba Timur regency, East Nusa Tenggara, experienced nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, and vomiting after consuming a government-provided lunch of fried noodles, fried tempeh and tofu, egg, and bananas. Students reported the food tasted off and appeared spoiled.
Another concerning incident involved undercooked, bloodied chicken served at SD Inpres 3 Waingapu elementary school in Sumba Timur regency, NTT. The school principal reported that students also found hair in their food, causing many to reject the meals. “After the video went viral, the caterer responsible for the free meals program at our school visited and accused us of staging the incident. They also stopped delivering food to us following the incident,” he stated.
When questioned about the raw chicken incident, National Nutrition Agency (BGN) head Dadan Hidayana described it as a “technical problem.” He suggested the issue may have resulted from caterers’ limited experience in preparing meals at the required scale, with each kitchen typically serving around 3,000 students daily.
The free meals program began its first phase on January 6, initially targeting 500,000 students. According to Dadan, the program has already expanded to serve over 2 million students across all 38 provinces of Indonesia, with 963 kitchens now in operation, including 117 that began functioning this week.
The government plans to progressively increase coverage to 17.5 million students by December 2024, with an ultimate goal of reaching 82 million children by the final year of President Prabowo’s administration in 2029.
Health and nutrition experts have expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of the program without sufficient evaluation of the initial implementation phase. They stress the need for more rigorous food safety protocols, better training for meal providers, and improved supervision of meal preparation facilities.
South Africa
GAUTENG – New Regulations for Spaza Shops Following Food Poisoning Tragedy
In the wake of a devastating food poisoning incident in Gauteng, authorities have introduced stringent new regulations aimed at improving safety standards in spaza shops. The move comes after 23 children died due to contaminated food, sparking widespread outrage and calls for better oversight of informal food vendors.
The incidents occurred in a small township where multiple residents fell severely ill after consuming food purchased from a local spaza shop. Investigations revealed that the food was contaminated with harmful bacteria, leading to hospitalizations and, tragically, several deaths.
Spaza shops, which are informal convenience stores commonly found in townships and rural areas, play a vital role in providing affordable food and essentials to communities. However, many operate without proper licensing or adherence to health and safety standards, raising concerns about the quality and safety of the products they sell. In response to the recent tragedy, the Gauteng Department of Health, in collaboration with local municipalities, has announced a series of measures designed to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Under the new regulations, all spaza shops will be required to obtain valid operating licenses and undergo regular health inspections. Vendors must also ensure that their products are sourced from reputable suppliers and stored in hygienic conditions. Additionally, shop owners will be mandated to attend food safety training programs to educate them on proper handling, storage, and disposal of food items.
The government has stressed that these measures are not intended to stifle small businesses but rather to protect public health.
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions. While many residents and community leaders have welcomed the move, some spaza shop owners have expressed concerns about the potential financial burden of complying with the new requirements.
Japan
OSAKA – Michelin-Starred Restaurant Closed After Recurring Norovirus Outbreaks
Health authorities in Kawachinagano City, Osaka, have ordered the indefinite closure of “Kiichi,” a one-star Michelin kaiseki restaurant, following two waves of norovirus outbreaks among its patrons.
The first incidents occurred in early February, when diners who visited the restaurant on February 2 and 8 developed food poisoning symptoms after their meals. Testing confirmed the presence of norovirus in all cases. The Tondabayashi Health Center initially mandated a two-day closure on February 13 and 15 for sanitation improvements, with the restaurant voluntarily extending its closure through February 16.
However, after reopening, a second wave of food poisoning cases emerged among customers who dined at Kiichi between February 18 and 22. This prompted health officials to order an indefinite suspension of operations on March 2.
According to Japanese media reports, a total of 28 diners ranging in age from 7 to 56 years old were affected across both outbreaks. All patients have reportedly responded well to medical treatment and are recovering.
The restaurant, which had maintained its prestigious Michelin star for four consecutive years, now faces an uncertain future as authorities investigate the source of the persistent contamination.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading norovirus lawyer said, “All restaurants, whether internationally famous, or small family-run ones, have a duty to follow all food safety procedures. Not doing so could result in fines, loss of business, or, in extreme cases, fatalities.”
