Between January and May 2026, 109 confirmed cases were reported in 10 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries and the United Kingdom. The countries affected include Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Most cases occurred in adults, with the majority among women. Eighteen people required hospitalisation, and one fatality was reported among the confirmed cases.
Evidence points to sprouted seeds
Epidemiological and microbiological investigations indicate that alfalfa sprouted seeds are the primary source of infection. This is supported by links identified through case interviews in several countries, the detection of the outbreak STRAINA subtype of a microbe defined by its genetic make-up; for example, in the case of Escherichia coli O157, the ‘O157’ part of the name refers to the strain in water used for the production of sprouted seeds in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), and epidemiological links to a producer in Finland.
TRACEABILITYThe ability to track the journey of a foodstuff or ingredient through all stages of production, processing and distribution suggests a contamination source outside of the EU
Investigations have identified a common seed supplier, with implicated alfalfa seeds having been imported from India and distributed widely across Europe.
Evidence suggests that the seeds may have been contaminated before entering Europe, prior to distribution and sprouting in the various European countries.
Control measures and current risk
Authorities in the affected countries have implemented control measures, including:
- withdrawal of implicated seed batches
- recalls of sprouted seed products
- destruction of suspected products
Since these actions have been implemented, case numbers have decreased. However, further infections cannot be ruled out until the source of contamination has been fully identified and controlled.
Based on current evidence and given that there have been no new cases reported to date in June, the risk for people who frequently consume sprouted seeds is assessed as low to moderate.
Public health and food safety authorities are encouraged to continue investigating new cases and sharing data, and to ensure that appropriate prevention and control measures remain in place.
Consumers are encouraged to follow proper hygiene practices at home, including rinsing fresh produce and following the manufacturer’s instructions when handling and consuming sprouted seeds.
O artigo foi publicado originalmente em EFSA.
