What Makes European Vacationers Sick

Thousands of people across Europe have fallen ill from Listeria this year after eating contaminated food, including eggs, meat, and food products.

A recent European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) report shows that while food safety standards in Europe remain high, foodborne diseases continue to affect people across all age groups.

On December 9, 2025, the ECDC stated Listeria caused the highest proportion of hospitalisations and deaths among all foodborne infections reported in the European Union (EU). Around seven in ten people infected with Listeria needed hospital care, and one in 12 people died.

The latest data on Listeria monocytogenes show that the proportion of samples exceeding the EU food safety limits ranged from 0% to 3% across all products analysed, with fermented sausages the most frequently contaminated products.

For example, France's health ministry reported 21 infections related to cheese products since late 2024.

'Even though contamination is rare, Listeria can cause severe illness, which makes it one of the most serious foodborne threats we monitor, ' said Ole Heuer, Head of ECDC's One Health Related Diseases Unit, in an ECDC media release.

'Protecting groups vulnerable to these diseases, such as older adults, pregnant women, or those with weakened immune systems, requires strong surveillance, safe food production, and key precautions at home'. 

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically coordinates between 17 and 36 foodborne illness investigations involving multiple states each week. Some of these investigations result in outbreak notices.

This CDC table displays selected multistate foodborne outbreak notices issued since 2006. 

As of December 14, 2025, the CDC says there is no approved Listeria monocytogenes vaccine for general human use to prevent the foodborne illness.

However, mRNA vaccine-based formulations are being evaluated.