EVIDENCE of an ongoing Salmonella Stanley outbreak has identified flavoured noodle products from a specific brand as the most likely vehicle of infection, with 106 confirmed cases reported across the European Union, the European Economic Area, and the United Kingdom between November 2025 and June 2026.
Salmonella Stanley Outbreak
The outbreak has been reported in 13 countries within the European Union and the European Economic Area, as well as the United Kingdom, with 106 confirmed cases that have primarily affected children and young adults. At least 49 hospitalisations have been reported.
The most likely source of infection is flavoured noodle products from a specific brand. Cases in Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, and Lithuania reported consuming these products before becoming unwell. Microbiological evidence has identified the outbreak strain in chicken and hot chicken noodle products of the same brand in Germany and Lithuania.
Further investigations linked the products to the same producer in Ukraine as the source. However, the root cause and exact point of contamination or cross contamination have not yet been established, and further investigations are required. The detection of additional Salmonella serovars may suggest multiple contamination sources.
Controlling the Outbreak
Control measures have included product withdrawals and recalls in several countries, which are expected to significantly reduce the likelihood of new Salmonella Stanley infections associated with this outbreak. However, because these products have a long shelf life, they may remain in household kitchens for extended periods, meaning additional cases may still occur.
Public health authorities are encouraged to interview any new cases, sequence isolates, and share information through EpiPulse. Food safety authorities are encouraged to continue investigating to confirm the identified noodle products as the vehicle of infection and to determine the source or sources of contamination, including whether contamination is associated with single or multiple ingredients.
Consumer Advice
Consumers are advised to follow the preparation instructions provided on product labels where products are not ready to eat, maintain appropriate food hygiene during preparation, and cook chicken products thoroughly. These measures may help reduce the risk of infection while investigations into the outbreak continue.
Reference
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Stanley ST2045 infections linked to consumption of flavoured noodle products. Available at: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/multi-country-outbreak-salmonella-stanley-st2045-infections-linked-consumption. Last accessed: 7 July 2026.
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