Overview

• The UK Health Security Agency issued a nationwide warning after linking tomatoes to over 100 salmonella illnesses and at least 14 hospitalisations in 2024.
• Laboratory tests confirmed 81 cases of S. Blockley and 24 cases of S. Strathcona, both rare strains that have infected consumers across the UK.
• Health officials remain uncertain whether the contaminated tomatoes were produced domestically or imported, complicating traceability efforts.
• Investigators are working with growers, distributors and local authorities to tighten testing, record-keeping and sanitation measures throughout the supply chain.
• Salmonella reports hit a decade high with 10,388 confirmed infections in 2024 and early 2025 cases of 1,588 surpassing previous years.