Table 1 Examples of recent large-scale food safety events
Year | Hazard | Food | Geographic scope | Public health impact | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | melamine | milk products from China | Products from were directly exported or secondarily distributed to 47 countries worldwide | ~ 300,000 infants and children became ill in China, and six died | [7] |
2011 | Escherichia coli O104 | fenugreek sprouts from Egypt | Products distributed to Germany and France | ~ 4000 people became infected with enterohaemorrhagic E.coli, and ~ 800 developed haemolytic uremic syndrome, mainly in Germany but also in France. | [8] |
2012 | Norovirus | frozen strawberries from China | Products were distributed to Germany | ~ 11,000 cases of norovirus infection in Germany were reported, primarily among school children and children in care facilities | [9] |
2013/2014 | Hepatitis A virus (HAV) | traceback could not indicate a single point source of contamination; blackberries from Bulgaria and redcurrants from Poland identified as the most common ingredients in the lots of berries associated with cases. | Products exported to at least 13 European countries | ~ 1500 cases of HAV infection in 13 European countries were identified | [10] |
2017/2018 | Listeria monocytogenes | ready-to-eat meat products (polony) from South Africa | Products were exported to 15 countries in Africa | ~ 1000 cases of Listeriosis in South Africa, including 200 deaths. | [11] |
2017/2018 | Salmonella Agona | infant formula from France | Products were exported or secondarily distributed to more than 80 countries worldwide | 37 infants infected with salmonellosis in France | [12] |
2018 | Listeria monocytogenes | Frozen vegetable products | Products were exported or secondarily exported to more than 120 countries worldwide | 47 cases of Listeriosis across five countries, including nine deaths | [13] |