Quick-fix meals feeding rise of deadly listeria infections

Brussels (dpa) –  Health officials in Europe are reporting a "significant" uptick in foodborne illness across the continent in the past five years, with listeria killing one in 12 of those infected in 2024. In a joint report covering almost 40 countries, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) found increasing incidences not only of listeria, but also of campylobacter, salmonella and E. coli. Eggs, meat and ready-to-eat meals were listed as "among the most frequent sources of infection," according to the agencies, with salmonella among farm birds given as another possible source. Most cases of the diseases covered in the report were likely preventable if people followed practices such as "keeping the fridge at 5°C or below" and ensuring food is cooked thoroughly and prepared hygienically, the two bodies said. According to the EFSA and ECDC, there were almost 170,000 cases of campylobacter, a diarrhoeal illness often caused by handling raw chicken, and around half that number of salmonella cases in 2024. But while salmonella and campylobacter were by far the most widespread of the diseases tracked, listeria, sometimes called listeriosis, is more serious than either, with around 70% of cases resulting in hospitalization. "Even though contamination is rare, listeria [bacteria] can cause severe illness, which makes it one of the most serious foodborne threats we monitor," said Ole Heuer of ECDC. "A significant number of EU countries failed to meet all the targets for reducing salmonella in poultry, with only 14 member states reaching full compliance," said Frank Verdonck, head of EFSA’s biological hazards unit. The following information is not intended for publication dpa spr coh

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