Key Takeaway:
- 207 people have contracted salmonella in the UK, with one death and 34 hospitalizations.
- Health officials link the outbreak to imported eggs, ruling out UK-produced eggs and poultry.
- Investigators are tracing the source across cafes and restaurants, with five businesses linked to 24 cases.
One person has died, and 207 people across the United Kingdom have fallen ill in a Salmonella outbreak linked to imported eggs eaten mainly at cafes and restaurants, health officials said Tuesday.
Officials link outbreak to imported eggs
The UK Health Security Agency said its investigation has ruled out eggs and poultry produced in the United Kingdom as the source of the infections. Evidence instead points to eggs imported into Britain, although officials have not identified their origin.
The affected people range in age from under one year to 90 years old. At least 34 people have required hospital treatment, and two developed bloodstream infections, the agency said.
Most cases have been reported in England, with 199 infections. Scotland has recorded six cases, while Wales and Northern Ireland have reported one each.
London has recorded 47 cases, the highest regional total, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber with 38 cases.
The person who died has not been identified. The UKHSA said details about the death could not be released because the circumstances remain under investigation.
Whole-genome sequencing, which examines the genetic makeup of bacteria, found that all 207 cases are linked to the same strain of Salmonella.
The first case was identified Aug. 11, 2025, but most cases have been detected since the middle of July 2026, according to the agency.
Investigators trace cases to food businesses
Interviews with 114 people who became ill found five food businesses where at least two unrelated cases reported visiting during the week before symptoms began. Those businesses are linked to 24 cases in total, the UKHSA said.
Officials did not identify the businesses. Investigators found that the premises received eggs from multiple sources, including importers, and identified possible cross-contamination risks at two locations.
The UKHSA said it is working with the Food Standards Agency and public health agencies in other European countries to determine where the contamination originated.
“Extensive epidemiological and food chain investigations are ongoing to identify the source and origin of the contamination responsible for illness,” the agency said in its public notice.
Dr. Safi Rehman, a research associate at King’s College London, said the outbreak appears connected to an earlier incident.
“This isn’t an isolated incident,” Rehman said. He added that the current Salmonella outbreak is closely related to a 2025 outbreak also linked to imported eggs, with the Salmonella strain genetically similar between the two years.
Health officials urge food safety measures
Hannah Charles, the UKHSA’s lead epidemiologist for gastrointestinal infections, said salmonellosis is commonly caused by eating or handling contaminated food and can rarely spread between people.
“Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, although vulnerable groups with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness,” Charles said.
Symptoms can include diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. Charles advised people to wash their hands after using the bathroom and before preparing food, cook food thoroughly, and avoid preparing food for others when experiencing symptoms.
The UKHSA said its investigation into the Salmonella outbreak remains ongoing as officials work with European partners and food safety authorities to identify the source and origin of the contamination.
