Salmonella outbreak linked to Zaragoza egg farm triggers international alert

A salmonella outbreak linked to eggs from a poultry farm in Mainar, Zaragoza, has resulted in thirteen people being poisoned in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Three of the victims required hospitalization, though all have since been discharged.

Authorities have identified the source as a farm belonging to the Virgen del Rosario group. Testing confirmed the presence of ‘Salmonella Enteritidis’ in two of the farm's eight poultry houses, which house over one million hens.

The incident has triggered a serious international food safety alert through the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The affected egg batches have been distributed to Spain, France, and Portugal. While the eggs have been withdrawn from the market, consumer organizations have criticized authorities for not immediately releasing specific brand names and lot numbers to help consumers identify potentially contaminated products.