EFSA reports surge in foodborne illnesses linked to dairy consumption

The findings, published in EFSA’s One Health Zoonoses Report in December 2024, reveal that milk and milk products were at the center of the uptick, though the authority stopped short of attributing the increase to systematic food safety lapses.

According to EFSA, foodborne outbreaks associated with dairy goods rose by 84.1%, with 392 more cases reported in 2023 compared to 2022. Hospitalizations linked to these outbreaks similarly increased by 57.7%, marking 30 additional cases.

Although no deaths occurred in 2023, the findings reflect a sharp rise in incidents associated with cheese, yogurt, quark, and milk products.

Cheese, in particular, accounted for the majority of the hospitalizations with 57 cases, while other dairy products and milk followed with 20 and 5 cases, respectively.

Contaminated cheese alone caused 20 outbreaks, underlining the need for strengthened hygiene measures throughout the supply chain.

A spokesperson from EFSA clarified that the increase was primarily driven by a large-scale outbreak in Germany, which involved norovirus contamination in dairy desserts.

This single event accounted for 538 of the 858 human cases reported across the EU, highlighting the significant impact of isolated large outbreaks on overall statistics.

EFSA emphasized that these figures are not indicative of systemic weaknesses in the dairy production and supply chain but underscore the role of hygiene practices in curbing foodborne diseases.

EFSA’s data shows that foodborne diseases linked to dairy were reported in 12 EU member states, including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, alongside two non-member states, Serbia and North Macedonia.

Despite the concerns, EFSA reiterated that applying strict hygiene protocols at every stage—from production to processing and handling—remains crucial for mitigating risks.

Historically, dairy-related foodborne disease outbreaks have exhibited similar spikes over the past decade.

For instance, sharp increases were reported in 2015, 2017, and 2020, with data pointing to single or few large-scale outbreaks as the primary contributors.

While EFSA’s 2023 data reflects notable fluctuations in reported cases, the broader context shows dairy products are far from the leading source of foodborne illnesses.

Multi-ingredient foods, such as processed products and prepared meals, accounted for the majority of reported outbreaks, followed by foods contaminated with pathogens like salmonella and Bacillus cereus.

Norovirus, the third most common pathogen identified in foodborne disease outbreaks, played a prominent role in the observed trends.

The EFSA report highlighted that norovirus-related incidents often involve large clusters of cases, as seen in 2023, where 27 outbreaks affected 50 to 100 individuals each, with eight outbreaks surpassing 100 cases.

In dairy production, contamination is often linked to improper heat treatment or cross-contamination during handling processes.

The findings highlighted the importance of rigorous pasteurization and hygiene measures in ensuring the safety of dairy products.

While pasteurization typically destroys harmful pathogens, lapses in treatment or cross-contamination during post-pasteurization handling can lead to outbreaks, as observed in recent years.

EFSA’s report highlighted the need for continued vigilance and investment in food safety practices across the dairy industry.

As demand for dairy and alternative proteins rises, maintaining consumer trust through stringent safety measures will remain a critical priority for producers and regulators alike