Food safety chiefs issue warning on tomatoes as salad favourite is linked to deadly infection that left more than a dozen hospitalised
More than 100 people were sickened, with at least 14 hospitalised by two strains of the diarrhoea-causing bug in 2024.
The cases, also believed to have been caused by the fruit, were not confined to a specific area of the UK, instead reported across the country, according to UK health and safety watchdogs.
Testing revealed all cases the infection were caused by the rare strains Salmonella Blockley, also referred to as S. Blockley, and Salmonella Strathcona, which the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned is particularly severe.
Cases of S. Blockley are more often seen in east Asia and the US, and have only been recorded in European countries a handful of times.
It comes as separate UKHSA data released this week found salmonella cases have surged in the first three months of 2025, up on 2023 and 2024.
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that infects the gut of farm animals—and typically affects meat, eggs and poultry.
The nasty bug usually also causes sickness and a fever that clears up in days. However, it can be fatal.
On average, it takes from 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella.
Those most at risk at suffering severe illness from a salmonella infection include those with weakened immune systems such as children and the elderly.
If people become seriously ill, they may need hospital care because the dehydration caused by the illness can be life-threatening.
According to the 2024 UKHSA data, there were 81 cases of S. Blockley confirmed by lab testing, all linked to tomatoes.
Of these, at least 14 were hospitalised.
Tomatoes were also blamed for a Salmonella Strathcona outbreak that affected 24 people.
But it is not known where the tomatoes were grown, be it from the UK or if they were imported from another country.
Research has suggested the texture of tomatoes can make them more prone to the bacteria and the risk increases as they are often eaten raw and not cooked, which would usually kill off any bugs.
Contaminated water supplies used as the tomatoes grow can spread salmonella. It can also persist in the soil and contaminate them as they grow.
A separate salmonella outbreak with 109 cases was linked to red meat.
UKHSA figures released last month showed salmonella cases hit a record decade high in 2024, soaring by almost a fifth in a single year to over 10,000 cases.
Children under 10 years old were particularly affected, accounting for 21.5 per cent of cases.
Dr James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the FSA, said: 'We are working together to understand the reasons behind the rise in salmonella cases, as well as trends in other pathogens.
'This analysis will help us take the necessary action to protect public health.
'We're also working with industry and local authorities to support businesses to meet their legal responsibility to make sure food is safe.'
But separate data this week showed cases in the first quarter of 2025 were even higher than 2024.
Some 1,588 cases were logged between January and March 2025, up on the 1,541 reported over the same period in 2024.
By comparison, there were 1,328 reports between January and March 2023.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
I'm a spinal doctor - here are the simple daily habits I follow to stay back-pain free
A leading spine surgeon has revealed the simple daily habits he follows to protect his spine—and what to do if you're one of the millions who suffers from back pain. Dr Colin Natalia, a consultant at The Princess Grace Hospital, blamed sedentary lifestyles for the epidemic—but said having an office job doesn't have to equate to back pain. 'The spine is an amazing feat of engineering. But it wasn't designed for sitting still,' he said. 'It is designed to move. It doesn't matter how ergonomic your office chair is, the height of your screen or even having a standing desk. 'It's not the answer to keeping your spine healthy. Movement is.' Whilst he acknowledged that these alterations may help improve posture, the best thing to do is take regular breaks. 'I set a chime on my [computer] desktop every hour signalling that it is time to get up and move,' he suggested. According to the back expert, movement is absolutely crucial to spine health, as this exercises the muscles. Tissue loading, which occurs when the muscles contract, is optimal for skeletal health. When this followed up by a period of rest—for example returning to your desk—the tissue becomes more resistant, building up back strength. He said this is particularly crucial for under 35-year-olds, who are still building bone mass, making it a critical time to implement practices that promote bone density and strength. Peak bone mass, which typically occurs between 25 and 35-years-old is the highest amount of bone tissue an individual can attain. Failure to build strong bones during this phase of life can increase the risk of osteoporosis—a health condition that weakens bones—and fractures in later life. 'It's all about forming habits when you're young,' Dr Natalia warned. 'If you don't use it, you'll lose it.' But, it's not too late for people who have surpassed the building block years, he added. 'My main message to everyone is to stay active, don't be afraid and push through the pain.' Whilst this might seem counter-intuitive, Dr Natalia said the best thing for people who have experienced back pain is to stay active. 'People become really inactive when they are suffering from back pain, partly because they are scared of it becoming something more serious and partly because they have been told that rest is the best thing for them. 'This couldn't be further from the truth,' he explained. Whilst he acknowledged that some pain is more severe than others, he said it is a common misconception that when something hurts it is causing harm. 'People too often confuse hurt and harm', he explained. 'Whilst pushing through may be painful, it is often the best thing you can do for your spine. 'Remember modification is always better than stopping altogether.' For those who are more prone to back pain, Dr Natalia suggested swapping out high impact workouts like running for something more gentle, like pilates or swimming when the pain is worse. However if the pain is persistent and does not improve after six weeks of rest, taking over-the-counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen and physical therapy, this could be a red-flag warning sign of something more serious. At this point, Dr Natalia advises contacting your GP who may refer you to a specialist for MRI imaging. However, he said that 90 per cent of cases do no progress to this stage and that most people should get better with a combination of physical therapy and painkillers. 'The best piece of advice I can give is don't be scared of your back and stay active.' As well as exercising regularly, making sure to stand up every hour, Dr Natalia said he also focuses on his diet, taking probiotics every day—which promote healthy bacteria in the gut—avoiding processed foods and refined sugar and eating a largely anti-inflammatory diet. The surgeons top tips come as new research has suggested that only one in ten treatments for back pain actually work. Experts from the University of New South Wales found that just one treatment for acute lower back pain and five treatments for chronic—or long-term—back pain were 'efficacious'. These included non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, for short-term back pain. For long-term back pain, the treatments found to be effective were exercise, spinal manipulative therapy, taping, antidepressants and drugs that target the pain receptors transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1). The findings will come as a blow to the millions of Americans and Brits who suffer from back pain, which can often be debilitating. It is the most common form of pain experienced by adults, with lower back pain affecting six in ten people in the UK, and eight in ten in the US. However, there is usually no immediately identifiable cause.
Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Aldi issues urgent recall over fears popular product contains GLASS
Aldi has issued an urgent recall for a popular product over fears shoppers could be injured if they try to consume it. The supermarket giant shared an alert for its Urban Eats Japanese Style Vegetable Gyoza on Monday. 'The recall is due to the presence of foreign matter - glass,' Food Standards Australia said. 'Food products containing glass may cause illness/ injury if consumed.' The affected products were sold in supermarkets in NSW, ACT, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Customers who bought the gyozas were advised to check for the affected batch with the best before date March 27, 2027. 'Consumers should not eat this product,' FSA said. 'Consumers should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. 'Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.' Aldi has established a Food Recall Hotline on 1800 709 993.
The Sun
4 minutes ago
- The Sun
I'm on Mounjaro & here's what happens after drinking on fat jabs – the hangxiety & acid reflux is the worst for starters
A WOMAN has revealed the awful side effects she has experienced when drinking on Mounjaro. Since becoming available on the NHS earlier this year, weight loss jab Mounjaro has helped thousands of Brits shed unwanted weight. 2 2 And whilst many are overjoyed with the results, some have reported major side effects, including burning skin and kidney problems. Jade, has been on Mounjaro since February, and has been documenting her journey on her TikTok account @ The busy mum has described the jabs as being "amazing"; however, she added that she has some nasty side effects when she drinks. "This is the reality of drinking on Mounjaro, she told her 12,000 TikTok followers. "I feel awful, emotionally, physically, in every way." Jade revealed that whilst she had actually been drinking she felt fine, however, the next day, she had the hangover from hell. Normally, when Jade drinks, she's either sick before she goes to bed, eats food, or drinks lots of water. Since she didn't do any of this on the night she was drinking, she is unsure whether this could have contributed to her awful hangover. Jade revealed that she was "out of the game" the day after she went out drinking, and still felt "emotionally unstable" two days after. She added that she hadn't even drunk loads, and hadn't felt this way for a long long time. I've lost nearly 6 stone in 9 months on fat jabs - trolls call me 'lazy' & say it's the 'easy way out' but I don't care "Honestly, just wanted to cry constantly for two days", she said. After doing some research, Jade discovered that when using Mounjaro, alchohol stays in your system longer, and your blood sugars are "all over the place." She added that she now gets awful acid reflux and "bad heartburn" for days after she drinks. Jade added that she experienced the "worst" hangxiety, and only felt "human" again four days after drinking. What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss. Addressing her followers, Jade asked if others had experienced the same thing, and whether she should give up drinking. Her video racked up over 224,000 views and was flooded with comments from people, many of whom had experienced the same thing. One person said: "I'm a good drinker but I had a glass and it knocked me for two days." A second person said: "I can't drink on it it makes me feel so sick." However, others reported that they felt fine after drinking, such as one person who said: "I can drink as normal." Another person said: "I feel fine the next day."
