Salmonella egg outbreak sickens 230 in Belgium
In Belgium, an outbreak of salmonella caused by eggs has sickened more than 230 people.
The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (AFSCA) has confirmed Food safety news that 236 people are sick following the Salmonella Enteritidis epidemic.
Patients range in age from 1 to 96 years old. They fell ill between February 19, 2025 and May 11, 2026.
Earlier this month, Laerco BV issued a withdrawal and recall of eggs with certain codes due to the possible presence of Salmonella.
The affected codes are “2-BE-1073-01”, “2-BE-1073-02”, “2-BE-1073-03” and “2-BE-1073-04”. Best before dates are from May 8 to June 5, 2026.
Consumers were advised to return the affected products to the place of sale for a refund.
Salmonella was found in a dust sample taken from a chicken coop at Laerco BV and subsequent analysis revealed it was the same type detected in the patients.
The measures taken for samples positive for Salmonella Enteritidis were applied within the company. These include FASFC control, limited contact with flocks, cleaning and disinfection of premises before the introduction of new flocks, as well as eggs subject to heat treatment, such as pasteurization, before being placed on the market for human consumption.
According to a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the eggs were also distributed in France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Previous egg outbreak
In 2025, 773 foodborne outbreaks were reported, 3,375 people became ill and 71 of them required hospitalization.
At the beginning of 2025, the National Reference Center for Salmonella in Sciensano detected an increase in Salmonella reports. An investigation to determine the origin was opened by the FASFC, also known as FASFC, the Flemish Department Zorg and Sciensano, the Belgian national public health institute.
The results showed that eggs were the cause of the outbreak. Sciensano linked 67 cases of salmonellosis to the outbreak, mainly in Flanders.
The FASFC traced the products and visited a laying hen farm to take samples. The same strain of Salmonella as in the patients was found in these samples, confirming the suspected source. Depo-Ei CV has removed and recalled eggs with certain codes and dates.
About Salmonella Infections
Foods contaminated with Salmonella bacteria generally do not look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can get a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.
Anyone who has eaten one of the implicated eggs and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctor about their possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria, because special tests are needed to diagnose salmonellosis. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection can mimic other illnesses, often leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection may include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults typically stay sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea can be so severe that patients need to be hospitalized.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop serious illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people become infected without getting sick or showing symptoms. However, they can still transmit the infection to others.
