Outbreaks and related diseases to decline before 2023 in Belgium

Figures from Belgium show that the number of outbreaks and sick people will have decreased in 2023.

The annual report of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) shows that 722 outbreaks have been reported: 3,194 people were affected, 76 were hospitalized and one died. This is down from the record number in 2022, when there were 830 outbreaks, 4,247 people sick and two deaths.

Only in six cases in 2023 could it be proven that food was the cause, because food and human samples contained the same bacteria, viruses or toxins that caused the disease.

Data from Sciensano, Belgium’s national public health institute, shows that viruses such as norovirus caused 15 outbreaks with 478 cases. Two of these were linked to oysters.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was responsible for 14 outbreaks with 48 cases. One incident was related to fermented raw milk. The drug was unknown in 662 outbreaks.

Salmonella and Bacillus cereus caused seven outbreaks, with 38 and 60 cases respectively. One person died as part of three Listeria outbreaks, with 17 cases. Three outbreaks caused by parasites also had 17 patients. Two Clostridium perfringens outbreaks involved 53 patients.

An instrument used to indicate changes in the state of food safety in Belgium increased by 2.2 percent between 2022 and 2023. The main reasons for the increase in the food safety barometer are a decrease in the number of people affected by possible food poisoning, a reduction in salmonellosis cases and fewer findings of Campylobacter in carcasses and meat.

Recalls and fraud cases
Belgian food companies recalled 254 products from consumers in 2023, compared to 289 recalls the year before. There were also 85 warnings, mainly due to undeclared product allergens or the wrong date on the packaging. More than eight out of ten recalls were due to a chemical or microbiological risk.

A consumer contact point handled 4,865 complaints in 2023. About a third fell into the hygiene category. The second largest group concerns people who have become ill and think this was caused by eating a certain food. The issues raised were justified in approximately half of the checks carried out following a consumer complaint. In 5 percent of the checks, shortcomings other than those mentioned in the complaint were found.

In 2023, all EU member states made 4,685 notifications via the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). The Belgian contact point made 379 reports and Belgian products were the reason for 132 reports.

In total, operators made 1,433 reports, an increase compared to 2022. Microbiological risks were again the main reason for reports, followed by chemical risks. The most common microbial problem involved almost 250 cases of Salmonella.

A Belgian investigation unit registered almost 900 reports of possible fraud in 2023 and more than 600 investigations were opened. The unit received 156 reports and sent 113 notifications through the European Administrative Assistance and Cooperation System – Food Fraud (AAC-FF).

Examples include participation in Europol’s Silver Ax operation, which targets illegal plant protection products, and Operation Opson, which investigates counterfeit food and drink.

Other tests include dietary supplements, sunflower oil, American and Asian sweets and the use of sulfites by butchers. Checks were also carried out at airports and roadside checks.

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