Tomatoes are being linked to a surge in rare forms of salmonella, that can potentially cause serious illness. Last year over 100 people fell ill, with at least 14 having to be treated in hospital after being infected by two rare strains of the diarrhoea-causing bug
The cases are believed to be linked to tomatoes and were not confined to a single area of the country. Health officials carried out tests to reveal the cause of the infections in the aftermath of the outbreak. Worryingly they discovered that the illnesses had been caused by two rare salmonella strains known as Blockley and Strathcona.
The Blockley salmonella strain is more often seen in east Asia and North America, and has only been recorded in European countries a handful of times.
Strathcona salmonella was first isolated in Canada in 1988, and has only been reported a few times globally since then. It comes as separate UKHSA data released this week found salmonella cases have soared in the first three months of 2025, up on 2023 and 2024.
According to the 2024 UKHSA data, there were 81 cases of Salmonella Blockley confirmed by lab testing, all linked to tomatoes. Fourteen of those infected with this strain suffered from severe symptoms and had to be admitted to hospital for treatment.
24 people were found to have been infected by Salmonella Strathcona – with the source of illness again identified as tomatoes
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that infects the gut of farm animals – and typically affects meat, eggs and poultry. The bug normally causes sickness and a fever that clears up in days. However, it can be sometimes fatal.
UKHSA estimates that food-borne Salmonella causes an average of 33 deaths per year in Britain.
However, Salmonella is not the biggest killer, with data showing that food-borne norovirus is estimated to cause 56 deaths per year.
Research has suggested the texture of tomatoes can make them more prone to the bacteria.