Salmonella Stanley outbreak linked to flavored noodles across Europe

European health authorities have confirmed 106 cases of Salmonella Stanley infection in 14 EU and EEA states, with the majority affecting children and young adults and 49 patients requiring hospitalisation. The affected nations include Austria, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Sweden.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) identified flavored instant noodles – chicken‑flavoured and spicy chicken – produced by the same brand in Ukraine as the most likely source. They stated: “I prodotti a base di noodles aromatizzati sono la fonte più probabile di un focolaio di infezioni in corso in più Paesi, con prove che collegano i casi ad articoli dello stesso marchio.” Microbiological testing isolated the outbreak strain from noodle samples collected in Germany and Lithuania, prompting further investigations.

A separate multi‑country outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans was also reported, with 109 confirmed cases in ten countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain and the Netherlands) between January and May 2026. This second outbreak involved primarily adult women, resulted in 18 hospitalisations and one death.