Recorded outbreaks plummet in Germany in 2020 and pandemic was likely a factor

The number of foodborne outbreaks reported in Germany halved in 2020, according to a report, but did include a large Salmonella outbreak linked to imported dried coconut. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) said a factor in the decline was the coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, the two entities received significantly fewer reports of foodborne disease outbreaks than in previous years. In total, 193 outbreaks were reported with 1,143 illnesses, 174 hospitalizations and four deaths compared to 402 outbreaks, 1,970 illnesses, 385 hospitalizations and five deaths in 2019. As in previous years, the most common causes this past year were Campylobacter and Salmonella. However, Salmonella and Campylobacter infections decreased by 46 percent and 22 percent, respectively, based on calculations by the Robert Koch Institute. Other pathogens that caused outbreaks were norovirus, Bacillus cereus, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shiga ...