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# Austrian tomato warning follows Salmonella infections
- URL: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2026/10/austrian-tomato-warning-follows-salmonella-infections/
- Published: 2026-10-20T04:05:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-20T04:04:59.000Z
- Description: Earlier this month, Italian authorities found monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Strathcona in cherry tomatoes.
- Author: Joe Whitworth
- Tags: outbreaks, Government Agencies, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Austria, salmonellosis, Salmonella Strathcona, tomatoes, Italy, 2026 outbreaks

Austrian authorities have warned against eating tomatoes from certain Italian regions because of a connection to recurring Salmonella outbreaks.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) and the Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMASGPK) said the alert covers raw cherry tomatoes from the areas of Ragusa and Caltanissetta in Sicily.

If cherry tomatoes from these regions must be used, officials said they should be thoroughly heated before consumption.

**National impacts**  
In Austria, 21 confirmed and eight probable Salmonella Strathcona cases have been reported in seven federal states. Initial results from interviews with patients point to stays in Italy and the consumption of tomatoes.

One person was sick during the winter, and 28 fell ill from the end of July. Seven people required hospitalization. The median age of those affected is 36 with a range of 10 months to 79 years old. Patients are 17 males and 12 females. Six cases were likely infected abroad. Of these, five had traveled to Italy and one had been to Croatia prior to the onset of illness. 

Earlier this month, Italian authorities found monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Strathcona in cherry tomatoes. They also reported 117 salmonellosis cases in Brescia and 15 in Bergamo.

Authorities in Puglia suspended the serving of raw fresh tomatoes in food preparation centers and distribution points for institutional catering. This includes nurseries, schools, social care and healthcare facilities, residential care homes and hospitals. The measures followed a rise in Salmonella Strathcona infections and detection of Salmonella in a batch of tomatoes from Caltanissetta.

In October, the Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection Administration (UVHVVR) in Slovenia was informed that a lot of cherry tomatoes from Italy had been delivered to several catering companies between Sept. 7 and 9\. The alert was raised because of the confirmed presence of Salmonella, which had caused illness in other member states. Further checks revealed all stocks had been used and were not available to consumers via retailers. UVHVVR has recorded no outbreaks linked to tomatoes since Sept 7.

**Persistent, common contamination source**  
Since July 2026, more than 160 confirmed infections have been recorded across 10 European countries. Sequencing results are pending for 100 more patients.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the recurrence of cases suggests ongoing transmission and distribution of contaminated produce both in and beyond Italy.

“The risk for new infections remains as long as the seasonal delivery of contaminated produce continues. New outbreaks are likely to occur in future seasons until the root cause of the contamination has been identified and control measures implemented,” according to the agency.

Between 2023 and 2026, 800 people have fallen sick in 17 European countries, including 133 in Austria. Cases occur mostly from late summer through to December.

Germany experienced its largest outbreak caused by Salmonella Strathcona in the 2025-2026 season, with 116 cases. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said recently that there are 39 patients associated with the outbreak since June 2026.

In addition to a close genetic relationship, the seasonal pattern of cases, patient interviews and food investigations support the hypothesis that outbreaks can be traced back to a common source of contamination.

In late 2025, AGES detected the outbreak strain in organic cherry tomatoes from Italy. The outbreak strain was also found in the irrigation water of a tomato producer in Sicily.