Multi-country Salmonella Stanley outbreak linked to flavoured noodle products

Flavoured noodle products have been identified as the most likely source of an ongoing multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Stanley infections. According to a Rapid Outbreak Assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), evidence points to items from a single brand.

Between November 2025 and June 2026, 106 confirmed cases were reported across 13 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries and the United Kingdom. The outbreak primarily impacts children and young adults, with at least 49 hospitalisations recorded. Affected countries include Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Epidemiological investigations revealed that patients in Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania had consumed flavoured noodle products from the same brand. Microbiological evidence confirms this link, as the outbreak strain was detected in chicken-flavoured and hot chicken-flavoured noodle products in Germany and Lithuania. The products were traced to a single producer in Ukraine, suggesting a potential point of contamination at the plant level.

Food safety authorities in the affected nations have implemented urgent recall measures. However, the root cause remains under investigation. Because these products have long shelf lives, consumers are strongly advised to check their household supplies, refrain from eating recalled items, and strictly follow food hygiene instructions during preparation.