Salmonella Stanley Outbreak in Europe Linked to Flavored Noodles

Flavored noodle products are the most likely source of an ongoing multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Stanley infections, with evidence linking the cases to items from the same brand, according to a Rapid Outbreak Assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). 

Between November 2025 and June 2026, 106 confirmed cases were reported in 13 European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries and the United Kingdom. The outbreak has mainly affected children and young adults, with at least 49 people requiring hospitalization, according to EFSA.

Cases have been reported in Austria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  

Evidence Points to Flavored Noodle Products.

Epidemiological investigations have found that cases in Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania had consumed flavored noodle products from the same brand, reported EFSA.

Microbiological evidence further supports the link, with the outbreak strain being detected in Germany and Lithuania in chicken-flavored and hot chicken-flavored noodle products. Investigations have linked the products, which were distributed in several countries, to the same producer in Ukraine. This suggests a possible common source of contamination at production plant level, although further investigation is needed, said EFSA.

Other strains of Salmonella have been detected in products of the same brand, suggesting that more than one contamination source may be involved, said the agency.

Control Measures and Risks.

Food safety authorities in affected countries have implemented control measures, including withdrawals and recalls of the implicated products, which will reduce the likelihood of new infections linked to this outbreak, said EFSA.

However, the root cause and point (or points) of contamination have not yet been established. It is therefore likely that further cases may occur, said the agency, particularly because these products have a long shelf life and may remain stored in household kitchens for extended periods.  

Further Investigations.

Public health authorities are encouraged to interview any new cases, sequence isolates where possible and share information with ECDC, said EFSA.

Food safety authorities are encouraged to continue investigating the suspected products as the source of infection and to identify the origin of contamination, including whether it is linked to one or more ingredients, the agency said.