Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Contaminated Sprouts Across Europe, Two Deaths Reported in Finland
A Salmonella Bovismorbificans outbreak spread across ten European countries between January and May, infecting 109 people and resulting in two fatalities in Finland. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has identified alfalfa sprouts as the primary source of the epidemic, with investigations tracing the contamination to sprout seeds imported from India.
The ECDC reports that 18 of the confirmed cases required hospitalisation. While two deaths occurred in Finland, the connection of the second fatality to the outbreak remains unconfirmed. The majority of cases involved adults, with women disproportionately affected, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) (Ilta-Sanomat).
Finnish Producer Linked to Local Cases
Finnish authorities have epidemiologically linked the domestic cases to a local producer of sprouted seeds. The Finnish Food Authority reported 32 infections in Finland between March and April, with many patients having consumed alfalfa sprouts (Ilta-Sanomat). The agency noted that Salmonella typically spreads through contaminated food, often due to improper handling or faecal contamination, and can also transmit between people via poor hand hygiene.
Contaminated Seeds Traced to India
Authorities suspect the outbreak originated from two batches of sprout seeds imported from India in October 2025. The seeds were distributed across Europe, leading to infections in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Finland (Ilta-Sanomat).
Outbreak Contained, Risk Assessed as Low to Moderate
Preventive measures, including recalls of contaminated seeds and sprout products, have helped reduce the number of new cases. The EFSA reports no new infections in June and assesses the current risk to consumers as low to moderate. The agency advises rinsing sprouts thoroughly and following manufacturer instructions to minimise risk (Ilta-Sanomat).
Salmonella infections commonly cause symptoms such as diarrhoea and fever. Heating food properly can destroy the bacteria, reducing the risk of transmission (MTV Uutiset).
