Foodborne illness in EU

Findings of the European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Food-borne Outbreaks in 2013 reveal that: campylobacteriosis infections reported in humans have now stabilised after several years of an increasing trend, but it is still the most commonly reported foodborne disease in the EU; listeriosis and VTEC infections in humans have increased; and reported salmonellosis and yersiniosis cases have decreased.

“The stabilisation of campylobacteriosis cases and the continuing downward trend of salmonellosis is good news, but we should not lower our guard as reporting of other diseases such as listeriosis and VTEC infections is going up,” says Marta Hugas, head of department of EFSA’s Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance department, who stresses the importance of monitoring foodborne illnesses in Europe.