It is a strange and silent case that affects all of Europe. On the date of September 4, 2025, 289 confirmed cases of salmonellosis have a possible origin that must be deplored throughout the continent.
The alleged failures? Sicily Tomatoes Cherry, which transports bacteria of the type of salmonella. A disease that can cause mild symptoms, digestive disorders, fever or vomiting, or serious or even fatal ways, as illustrated by the sad scandal of contaminated kinder.
Since June, 29 cases have been registered, including one in France, according to the ECDC, the European Center for Disease Control. Since the beginning of the epidemic, there have been a total of 24 cases in France, but also 59 cases in Austria, 78 in Italy, 29 in the United Kingdom and even 5 in Canada and 8 in the United States.
The European agency, which evokes an “international epidemic” even expects this number of pollution to “underestimate”. Therefore, several cases are under verification.
Questioned, the French health authorities have not provided more details about the contamination registered in the national soil. The General Directorate of Food, piloted by the Ministry of Agriculture, is discharged for the benefit of public health France … which in turn indicates the file in the hands of the ECDC.
“All the information about this epidemic of several countries is coordinated and published by ECDC. We have no more elements; the coordination of the research is followed by the ECDC detailing the research and monitoring process of these recurring episodes at European level,” said Public Health France in BFMTV.
One in progress in progress
Are Cherry Sicilian tomatoes guilty? This is what comes from the first epidemiological surveys, which still have to be deepened. Note that some people who have presented symptoms did so as a result of a trip to this country. But not all. Therefore, “the majority” of German patients have no history of passing in the country with the start.
Therefore, Cherry tomatoes are at the top of the suspect list, although it is an unorthodox transmission. As the Pasteur Institute points out, pollution is made through contaminated water or foods, “especially meat products (poultry, beef), including cold meats, eggs or raw milk, including some cheeses.”
But, according to the reference institute, “the contamination of foods of plant origin, if they are not well washed or cooked before consumption, it can also be the source of an infection.”
“It is recommended (…) Continuing investigations to verify if small tomatoes in Italy are the vector of the infection in the new cases,” says the ECDC in its report.
“There is no food alert” in France
If the tomato track is confirmed, can we always find them on the shelves of the French areas? This point is particularly vague. Contaminated products would continue to be distributed “beyond Italy” according to the European agency.
Requested by BFMTV, the Ministry of Agriculture indicates for its part that France has received “without food alert (without retirement, without remembering products) related to this survey (…) If necessary, the withdrawals and product reminders would be involved in France according to the information received by the countries to send contaminated products.”
French authorities still specify that investigations take place, at this stage, in Italy. In case of doubt, it is better to rinse your Cherry tomatoes before launching a snack.
Source: BFM TV
