In 2024, the number of people who became ill from salmonella rose again, continuing the trend from 2023. There were also more poultry farms contaminated with these bacteria. The main type found was Salmonella enteritidis. There were fewer bird flu infections at poultry farms compared to 2023.

Nearly 2 million people are estimated to have fallen ill from a foodborne infection in the Netherlands in 2024 – an increase of more than 100,000 people compared to 2023. These findings are from the new annual report about foodborne infections.

For the first time since 2016, the Netherlands saw a reduction in the number of foodborne infections in 2023 compared to the year before. The number of outbreaks decreased from 1,173 in 2022 to 911 in 2023. The number of people who became ill decreased from 4,505 to 3,500.

In 2022, the number of enteric infections – which mainly cause gastrointestinal symptoms – was higher than it was in the previous two years. However, the total number of infections was still lower than before the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, the incidence of enteric infections – which mainly cause gastrointestinal symptoms – was higher than in 2020, but still lower than before the coronavirus pandemic. This is the outcome of a study into enteric infections and pathogens transmitted from animals to humans.

In 2020, the estimated costs of foodborne infections in the Netherlands were 140 million euros lower than in the preceding year. This corresponds to a 30% decrease.

The Netherlands aims to take the lead in the international ambition for a healthy, sustainable and safe dietary pattern.

There has been an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis in Europe since 2015. It has also been present in the Netherlands since May 2016.