25 May 2026
The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain is currently investigating a widespread outbreak of salmonellosis. Epidemiological tracing has definitively linked the multi-state cluster to the consumption of contaminated table eggs.
To date, public health authorities have confirmed 236 cases of illness. The demographic distribution of the outbreak is remarkably broad, with patients ranging in age from less than one year to 96 years old. Clinical symptoms and positive laboratory confirmations were documented between February 19, 2025, and May 11, 2026, indicating a prolonged exposure period before the source was fully traced.
The pathogen responsible for the outbreak has been identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis. The link between human illness and the source was established through molecular epidemiology. Environmental dust samples collected from a poultry house operated by Laerco BV tested positive for Salmonella Enteritidis. Subsequent genetic and epidemiological analyses confirmed a definitive match between these environmental isolates and the clinical strains recovered from affected patients. Following diagnostic confirmation, an immediate product withdrawal and public recall were initiated for the contaminated eggs. The affected lots were distributed not only within Belgium, but also to France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
