EFSA and ECDC link a Salmonella outbreak from 14 countries of flavored noodle products

Flavored noodle products are the most likely source of a multinational outbreak of Salmonella Stanley, according to a rapid assessment conducted by the European Food Safety Authority and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Between November 2025 and June 2026, 106 cases were confirmed in 13 countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area, as well as in the United Kingdom.

In brief

EFSA and ECDC have identified flavored noodle products as a probable source of the outbreak. 106 confirmed cases have been reported in 13 EU/EEA countries and in the United Kingdom. At least 49 people required hospitalization. The outbreak has mainly affected children and young adults. The suspected products come from the same manufacturer in Ukraine and have been distributed in several countries.

Cases have been reported in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. European authorities say that the outbreak is still ongoing, although product withdrawals and recalls reduce the likelihood of new infections related to the already identified products.

Epidemiological investigations have shown that infected individuals from Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania consumed flavored noodle products of the same brand. The link was also supported microbiologically: the outbreak strain was detected in Germany and Lithuania in products with chicken and spicy chicken flavor.

The products have been distributed in several countries and are linked to the same manufacturer in Ukraine. EFSA and ECDC state that available data suggest a possible common source of contamination at the production unit level, but the investigation continues to determine the exact cause.

Authorities have also detected other strains of Salmonella in products of the same brand. This element indicates the possibility that contamination may involve more than one source, including one or more ingredients, not just a single point in the production process.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Severe cases may require hospitalization, especially in children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, or people with weakened immunity. In this outbreak, the number of hospitalizations is high: at least 49 people out of 106 confirmed cases.

Food safety authorities in the affected countries have implemented control measures, including the withdrawal and recall of the implicated products. Consumers should not eat the products included in the recalls. EFSA recommends returning them to the point of sale or disposing of them.

The risk is not completely closed. The cause and the point or points of contamination have not yet been established, and the products may have a long shelf life. Some packages may remain stored in households for extended periods, which maintains the possibility of new cases arising.

For products that require preparation before consumption, EFSA and ECDC recommend strictly following the instructions on the label. Food hygiene remains important during preparation: hands, utensils, and surfaces used for cooking must be cleaned to avoid cross-contamination.

Public health authorities are encouraged to interview new cases, sequence isolates when possible, and transmit information to ECDC. Food safety authorities must continue the investigation into the suspected products and establish the origin of the contamination.