A multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans ST377 has infected 109 people across 10 EU/EEA countries and the United Kingdom between January and May 2026, with alfalfa sprouted seeds traded from Italy identified as the primary vehicle of infection, according to a joint rapid outbreak assessment published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on 25 June 2026. The outbreak has led to 18 hospitalisations and two deaths in Finland, and predominantly affected adult females.
The assessment, based on epidemiological and microbiological evidence, traced the contamination to alfalfa sprouted seeds originating from Italy. Microbiological evidence included detection of the outbreak strain in water samples collected during alfalfa sprouted seed harvesting in the Netherlands and Northern Ireland (UK). A Finnish sprouted seed producer was epidemiologically linked to cases in Finland. Traceability investigations in Italy identified a common seed supplier in India, suggesting this area as a potential origin of seed contamination. The outbreak strain is believed to have started circulating in Europe in October 2025 via two alfalfa seed consignments, before being distributed across multiple countries.
Control measures have included withdrawal of the implicated consignments, recalls of related products, cessation of production, and destruction of suspected products. Following these interventions, case notifications decreased. However, EFSA and ECDC warn that further infections may occur until the source of contamination is fully identified and controlled, particularly because sprouted seeds can be sold as ready-to-eat products, representing a concern for microbial food safety. The risk of infections is assessed as low-to-moderate for people in EU/EEA countries who frequently consume sprouted seeds.
The assessment calls on public health authorities to interview new cases, sequence isolates, and share information in EpiPulse, the EU epidemic intelligence platform. Food safety authorities are encouraged to investigate the role of the environment in seed contamination. Seed producers should implement appropriate measures to minimise contamination risk, and sprouted seed producers should implement adequate food safety management systems to ensure safe products reach the market.
The outbreak highlights the vulnerability of the sprouted seed supply chain, where contamination at the seed production stage can lead to widespread distribution of contaminated products. The findings underscore the need for enhanced traceability and food safety controls along the entire supply chain, from seed origin in third countries to final consumption in the EU.