A concerning report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has unveiled a sharp rise in foodborne outbreaks and illnesses clustered around dairy products.

This revelation, part of the EFSA’s One Health 2023 Zoonoses report, released in December 2024, highlights significant health risks associated with the consumption of milk and dairy foods.

The statistics are alarming:

in 2023, there were 392 more cases of foodborne illness reported—an 84.1% increase compared to the previous year—and an additional 30 hospitalizations, marking a 57.7% rise. Remarkably, no deaths due to dairy-related illnesses were reported in 2023, a decline from 7 fatalities in 2022.

The EFSA's data pinpoint contaminated cheese as a major culprit,

linked to 20 outbreaks. Other dairy products, including yogurt and quark, were associated with 15 outbreaks, while milk itself accounted for 3. Notably, cheese consumption was correlated with the highest hospitalization figures, reaching 57 cases, followed by other dairy products at 20 and milk at 5.

Twelve EU member states, along with two non-member states (Serbia and North Macedonia), reported incidences of dairy-linked foodborne diseases.

Predominant pathogens identified included Salmonella, responsible for 19 outbreaks, and norovirus, linked to 9, alongside one outbreak attributed to parasites.

What Triggered This Increase?

The significant spike in dairy-related illness cases in 2023 has been primarily attributed to a major norovirus outbreak reported in Germany, which stemmed from contaminated dairy desserts. This single outbreak accounted for 538 of the 858 strong-evidence foodborne illness cases recorded in the EU for the year.

The EFSA clarifies that this dramatic increase should not be interpreted as a systemic failure in food safety practices but rather is drawn from this unique incident.

EFSA representatives emphasize the necessity of strict hygiene protocols throughout the dairy supply chain to mitigate risks. As seen historically, sharp increases in reported cases of foodborne illnesses related to dairy are not unprecedented. Similar spikes were recorded in previous years: 2015 (662 cases), 2017 (1173 cases), and 2020 (419 cases). Typically, these fluctuations arise from isolated outbreaks rather than widespread health and safety failings.

What About Other Food Sources?

While dairy received a spotlight in this report, it's essential to note that dairy products were not the leading source of foodborne illnesses in 2023. Multi-ingredient foods, including processed items and prepared dishes, topped the list with 3,409 cases, reflecting a consistent trend observed over the last few years. Further, meat products also made headlines, contributing to 2,578 illness cases.

Salmonella remains the most notorious pathogen in food safety,

causing significant hospitalizations across various food categories such as eggs, pork, and fish. Norovirus, viewed as the third leading cause of foodborne outbreaks, was responsible for 359 outbreaks in 2023 alone, many linked to large-scale servings in buffets and public meals.

Pathogen Management in Dairy Production: Essential Insights

While pasteurization is a crucial process for eliminating harmful pathogens in dairy production, lapses in heat treatment and handling can lead to contamination. Cross-contamination also poses a risk; for instance, introducing contaminated ingredients, like frozen berries, into dairy products could pave the way for illness outbreaks.

As Europe navigates these troubling trends,

it becomes imperative for consumers to stay informed about food safety practices and for producers to uphold stringent hygiene standards to ensure the safety of dairy products.

Stay vigilant and prioritize food safety—your health depends on it!