08 July 2026
A Salmonella outbreak in France has been traced to contaminated egg imports from Poland, according to an exclusive report by the international food safety publication Food Safety News.
According to official information provided to the publication by France's national public health agency (Santé publique France) and the Directorate General for Food (DGAL), at least 16 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis infection have been confirmed, with four patients requiring hospitalization.
In response to inquiries from Food Safety News, officials at the French Directorate General for Food (DGAL) stated that the epidemiological link to Polish eggs was established through extensive patient interviews. The investigation identified a clear association between the onset of illness and the consumption of foods containing raw or undercooked eggs, including homemade sauces and mayonnaise. Investigators were able to trace the eggs to their origin using the producer codes stamped on the eggshells, which identify both the producing farm and the country of origin. The implicated white eggs were distributed through multiple supermarkets and retail chains across France.
Despite the findings, French authorities did not issue a product recall or a public consumer warning. By the time epidemiological and laboratory investigations confirmed the source of the outbreak, the affected batches had already been purchased and consumed, leaving no products available for withdrawal from the market. Nevertheless, the French DGAL formally notified the Polish authorities to ensure that appropriate corrective measures are implemented at the source facilities to prevent further incidents.
