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27.11.2024 - Foods

Foodborne Disease Outbreaks in Germany 2023: New Report by the Robert Koch Institute and BVL

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI), in collaboration with the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), has published the Joint National Report on Foodborne Disease Outbreaks in Germany for the year 2023. These outbreaks also represent a significant health problem in Germany, as they cause a large number of illnesses each year.

Causes of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks

Foodborne disease outbreaks can be caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. These usually enter the human body through contaminated food and can lead to serious illnesses. The most common routes of transmission include improper handling or storage of food as well as poor hygiene practices in production and gastronomy.

Data on these outbreaks are collected by local health and food monitoring authorities and then transmitted according to the Infectious Disease Protection Act to the Robert Koch Institute and the National Surveillance System for Foodborne Outbreaks (BELA). This data forms the basis for the annual evaluation and the creation of the national report.

Figures and Facts from the Year 2023

In 2023, a total of 190 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported in Germany. These resulted in 2,248 illnesses, 283 hospitalizations, and unfortunately, 13 deaths. A large portion of these outbreaks was caused by bacterial pathogens, with Salmonellae and Campylobacter being the most common culprits. 39% of the outbreaks in 2023 were caused by the pathogen Salmonella spp., while 22% of the outbreaks were attributed to Campylobacter spp.

Other pathogens that led to disease outbreaks in 2023 included:

• Noroviruses: 12% of outbreaks
• Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC): 4%
• Hepatitis A virus: 3%
• Listeria monocytogenes: 2%
• Cryptosporidium spp.: 2%
• Hepatitis E virus: 2%
• Bacillus cereus: 1%
• Staphylococcus aureus: 1%
• Clostridium perfringens: 1%
• Giardia: 1%
• Vibrio cholerae: 1%

In about 19% of the reported outbreaks, the exact pathogen could not be determined, highlighting how difficult it can sometimes be to identify the exact cause of food poisoning.

Conclusion and Outlook

The results of 2023 underline the ongoing importance of preventive measures in the field of food hygiene and safety. Monitoring by local health authorities and the regular reporting of outbreaks is essential to minimize the spread of diseases and to protect public health. It remains important in the future to stay alert and invest in education as well as improving food safety to prevent such outbreaks.

The comprehensive data from the report helps identify risk factors and develop targeted measures to reduce foodborne disease outbreaks. The BAV Institute remains actively involved in promoting food safety and offers companies practical support to identify and avoid risks at an early stage.

In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct tests, and we offer rapid methods for the detection of Salmonella, Staphylococci, and more. We provide you with fast and reliable results. Our customer advisors are available for any questions you may have.

Source: www.bvl.bund.de