Eggs and meat products caused the highest number of Salmonella outbreaks in 2017.

Foodborne outbreaks remain a major cause of human illness in the EU

The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) have released their annual report on the trends and sources of zoonoses.

The report shows that Salmonella and Campylobacter cases have remained stable over the past five years, but Listeriosis continues to rise.

It found that after several years of decline, Salmonella cases have levelled off. The number fell slightly in 2017 from 94,425 to 91,662. But researchers say the falling trend that began in 2008 has halted in recent years.

“After years of significant progress in reducing the burden of foodborne illnesses in the EU, especially Salmonella, the situation has now stalled. Increased efforts are needed to push the figures further down” said EFSA’s chief scientist Marta Hugas.

Some 5,000 foodborne and waterborne outbreaks were reported in 2017, representing a 6.8 per cent decrease compared with 2016. Salmonella bacteria were the most common cause of foodborne outbreaks, with eggs and meat products causing the highest number of outbreaks.

ECDC chief scientist Mike Catchpole welcomed this fall, but warned that the infections are still a significant threat to human health.

”We still saw an average of 100 food- and waterborne outbreaks per week in 2017, some of which affected several countries”, he said. “These infections are a substantial cause of human illness in the EU.

"The rising trend of listeriosis, which continues to cause deaths in vulnerable groups, needs to be reversed.”