In Belgium in 2020, more than 330 outbreaks affected more than 1,200 people. In total, 333 outbreaks sickened 1,262 people, 27 of those needing hospital treatment. Two elderly people died, one due to Salmonella and the other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection, but a link to food could not be confirmed.
Outbreaks were down from 571 in 2019 with 2,457 people sick and 28 hospitalized. The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) said the impact of coronavirus measures such as closure of schools and more working from home plus the shutdown of restaurants and canteens partly explains the decline.
The agent responsible was unknown for 317 outbreaks. According to data from Sciensano, the Belgian Scientific Institute of Public Health, Campylobacter caused three with 10 people sick and STEC three with 17 sick and 14 hospitalized. Bacillus cereus was behind two events with 20 ill, histamine two with 12 affected and Salmonella two with 11 ill and six needing hospital treatment after eating meat and pork products.
One norovirus outbreak sickened 151 people linked to vegetables; honey was responsible for one Clostridium botulinum illness and the source was unknown for an outbreak of Clostridium perfringens with 21 sick.
Almost half of the outbreaks were linked to the hotel and catering sector. More than a quarter were linked to private households and 10 percent to takeaway and fast food.
Recalls and fraud
Almost 400 product recall notices were published by FASFC in 2020, also known as AFSCA or FAVV, with 105 relating to sesame seeds produced in India and treated with ethylene oxide, which is not authorized for such use in Europe. This is up from 239 recalls and warnings in 2019.
