Over three hundred people in Belgium have been infected with salmonella after consuming contaminated eggs, according to the country's health authorities.
Officials warn that the true number is likely higher, as not all those affected have sought medical attention. The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (Afsca) has issued a product recall and alerted several other European countries where the eggs were sold to, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg, according to Belgian newspaper Le Soir.
The recalled eggs came from free-range hens and can be identified by the codes 2-BE-1073-01, 2-BE-1073-02, 2-BE-1073-03, and 2-BE-1073-04. They were distributed by major supermarket chains in Belgium, such as Carrefour, Aldi, Delhaize, and Colruyt.
Luxembourg authorities launched a recall earlier this month, confirming that the Colruyt group was the main distributor of the affected eggs in Luxembourg. The recalled products, sold under the Econom and Everyday brands, were available between 16 July and 10 August.
This salmonella outbreak comes as a separate case, this time linked to contaminated bacon pieces, has affected the United Kingdom and resulted in at least one death. Belgian health officials believe there is no connection between the two outbreaks.
Salmonella infection, or salmonellosis, typically causes gastrointestinal issues, vomiting, and diarrhoea, often accompanied by fever and headaches.
According to the French government food alert portal Rappel Conso, symptoms usually appear between six and 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. Young children, pregnant women, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of severe illness.
Anyone experiencing symptoms after eating affected eggs is advised to consult a doctor promptly. However, if no symptoms appear within seven days of consuming a potentially affected product, there is no further cause for concern.
