Italian Tomatoes Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
German health authorities identified contaminated Sicilian irrigation water as the source of a multistate Salmonella outbreak.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Organic Food
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Between June 2025 and March 2026, 116 people in Germany were infected with Salmonella Strathcona. Italian authorities linked the outbreak to tainted irrigation water found at a production site in Sicily.
Why it matters
The identification of the source highlights critical supply chain vulnerabilities in the European agricultural sector. Linking the bacteria to specific irrigation water practices helps health officials prevent further cross-border contamination.
The outbreak resulted in 24 hospitalizations among the 116 confirmed cases, which involved 66 females and 49 males. The median age of those affected by the salmonellosis was 39 years.
The players
Robert Koch Institute
The RKI serves as the central federal institution for disease control and prevention in Germany.
The details
Whole genome sequencing confirmed the outbreak strain in patient samples, while supply chain tracing pinpointed the source to producers in Italy. 16 out of 17 people who were exposed to the bacteria while abroad reported consuming tomatoes.
Timeline
Over 600 Salmonella cases occurred across European countries between 2011 and 2024.
Contaminated irrigation water was detected in Sicily in April 2025.
A total of 116 Salmonella cases were identified in Germany from June 2025 to March 2026.
Authorities began recording 39 additional cases in June 2026.
Culture Shift
This incident follows a decade of documented Salmonella cases across 17 European countries, highlighting persistent challenges in international produce safety. It underscores the broader reliance on cross-border supply chain tracing to monitor foodborne pathogens.
Consumers should remain aware of food safety alerts regarding imported produce from the Sicilian region. While specific retail outlets were not named, checking labels for regional origins can help shoppers mitigate risks during ongoing foodborne illness investigations.
The takeaway
Maintaining vigilance regarding the origin of raw produce is essential for consumers who wish to minimize exposure to foodborne pathogens. Health authorities continue to rely on whole genome sequencing to trace the movement of contaminated products through international markets.
Further reading
For broader trends in agricultural supply chain safety, explore the Organic Food section.
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