Joe Whitworth

Editor at Food Safety News

Writing and sharing #foodfraud + #foodsafety info. Ex @FoodQualityNews editor. Now @foodsafetynews and other bits

Articles

Salmonella dominated Spanish outbreaks in 2023

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

Spain recorded a rise in outbreaks in 2023 compared to past years with 350 because of Salmonella, according to a recent report. In Spain, outbreaks must be reported to the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RENAVE). In 2023, 833 foodborne and waterborne outbreaks were reported, with 11,510 patients, 415 hospitalizations, and 13 deaths. This included 818 foodborne outbreaks, with 10,125 patients, 414 hospitalizations, and 13 deaths.
UKHSA reports on increases in Campylobacter and Salmonella infections

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has provided more details about Campylobacter and Salmonella infections in 2023. The number of reported Campylobacter cases in England rose from 54,884 in 2022 to 60,014 in 2023. More recent data shows a further increase to more than 70,300 in 2024. In 2023, the region with the most Campylobacter laboratory reports was the South East with 11,140. Despite having the lowest number of patients, the North East had the highest reporting rate.
Advice revised after refrigerator temperature study findings

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

An evaluation of domestic refrigerator temperatures has led to an update of guidance on shelf-life studies. Work by scientists at the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) prompted a revision in the reference temperature for calculating dates for ready-to-eat refrigerated foods.
Latvian E. coli investigation makes progress as patient count hits 60

1 week ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

At least 60 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections are being investigated in Latvia. The country’s Center for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) has been providing regular updates on the number of sick people. The majority of patients are children and illnesses started in March. Initial results from laboratory testing on samples from sick people has identified two STEC serotypes – O103 and O26.
Outbreaks drive Swedish Salmonella increase

2 weeks ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

Sweden has published data on the number of people that were affected by major pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and Listeria in 2024. Data from Folkhälsomyndigheten (the Public Health Agency of Sweden) shows that outbreaks of Salmonella led to the highest incidence of cases infected in Sweden since 2010. Whole genome sequencing identified six major outbreaks with 10 or more patients.
Czech survey released to mark EFSA safe food campaign

2 weeks ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

The majority of people in the Czech Republic trust food sold in the country to be safe but at least a fifth struggle with basic food handling rules. Findings come from an online survey of food safety on the Czech market with more than 1,500 people in March 2025. It was part of the #Safe2EatEU campaign organized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and rolled out in the Czech Republic by the food safety department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Men convicted in unfit meat diversion case

2 weeks ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

Four men and a business have been convicted in England after diverting meat unfit for human consumption back into the food chain. Three men pled guilty, and one man and his business entered not guilty pleas at the Inner London Crown Court following an investigation by Southwark Council and the Food Standard Agency’s (FSA) National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). The investigation was called Operation Bantam and it began in 2020.
Campylobacter and Salmonella on the increase in England

2 weeks ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

England saw an increase in Campylobacter and Salmonella reports from 2022 to 2024, according to recently released information. The data comes from the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) first annual report summarizing infectious disease trends. Between 2022 and 2024, there was an increase in Campylobacter laboratory reports, with the rate per 100,000 population going up by 27 percent from 96.1 in 2022 to 122 in 2024.
Australians warned about wild mushroom risk

4 weeks ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

A charity in Australia has repeated a warning against picking and eating wild mushrooms. The Food Safety Information Council’s annual message comes as mushrooms are starting to appear around Australia with it being Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Lydia Buchtmann, Food Safety Information Council CEO, said foraging for food is becoming popular, especially through promotion on social media, but gathering wild mushrooms can be dangerous.
Coleslaw link in Welsh Shigella outbreak

1 month ago | foodsafetynews.com | Joe Whitworth

Researchers have been unable to find the original source in a Welsh Shigella outbreak that affected more than 50 people. In February 2023, 52 cases of gastrointestinal illness were reported in customers of a takeaway in South Wales. Shigella flexneri serotype 2a was the causative organism. In December 2024, operators of Marmaris Kebab House, Sami Abdullah and Hassan Saritag, admitted food hygiene offences at Newport Magistrates Court and were fined in relation to the incident.