According to the new EU Zoonoses Report “One Health”, from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), foodborne illnesses continue to affect people of all ages, especially the most vulnerable groups.

“Every year, thousands of people fall ill after consuming contaminated food, with eggs, meat and ready-made products being the main sources of infection,” says a statement.

In 2024, Listeria was responsible for the largest proportion of hospitalisations and deaths among all reported foodborne infections in the EU: about seven out of ten infected people required hospital care and one in 12 died.

“Although contamination is rare, Listeria can cause serious illness, making it one of the most serious foodborne threats we monitor,” said the head of the ECDC’s Single Unit for Related Health Diseases, Ole Heuer, quoted in the statement.

The increasing trend of cases in recent years may be linked to the aging population, increased consumption of ready-made foods, and inadequate preservation practices.

Although contamination levels are low, ranging between 0% and 3% of the samples analysed, fermented sausages are the most frequently contaminated products.

In addition to Listeria, other infections such as Campylobacter and Salmonella remain the most common in Europe, with poultry meat and eggs among the main sources of infection.