Salmonella outbreak linked to cashew butter sickens at least 65 people
A salmonella outbreak linked to cashew butter has sickened dozens of young children in Germany and Austria, health officials have warned.
The illnesses are linked to Salmonella Infantis, a form of the bacteria typically associated with contaminated chicken.
Since Germany detected the outbreak in late May, it has reported 52 salmonella cases among children under the age of 5, including 24 hospitalisations.
Another 13 cases have been confirmed in Austria, mostly among young children, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Health authorities interviewed about two dozen parents, allowing them to identify the culprit behind the outbreak: a ready-to-eat cashew butter that the ECDC said has now been recalled.
According to Germany's food safety notice, the recalled mousse is a raspberry-flavoured cashew butter sold in supermarkets throughout the country.
'Consumption of food contaminated with salmonella can lead to diarrhoea, headaches, abdominal pain, malaise, vomiting, and a mild fever,' the notice said.
'Infants, young children, and the elderly or those with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk and may develop more severe illnesses'.
Beyond Austria and Germany, the cashew butter was sold in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia – but as of June 4, none of these countries had reported any salmonella cases linked to the food, according to the ECDC.
But that could change, the agency said.
'Given the [mousse's] long shelf-life, there might still be a possibility for the food products to be present in consumers' homes,' the ECDC said, meaning additional illnesses could be reported in the coming weeks.
The ECDC is monitoring the incident and has asked countries to share any available data on the outbreak-linked salmonella samples for further analysis.
It is not the only salmonella risk in the European Union recently. In March, the agencyissued a warning about 'widespread' outbreaks tied to alfalfa seeds from Italy.
Belgium counts 400 breweries and produces more than 1,600 types of beers, and yet its beer consumption continues to decline.
According to an annual report by the Belgian Brewers association, the country's beer consumption fell by 2.1% in 2024, although the declinde was not as steep as the 6% decrease in 2023.
The drop is part of an ongoing downward trend, with consumption in the country falling by almost 20% in the last 10 years.
The association cites "persistent pressure on purchasing power, reduced competitiveness, high costs and an unstable geopolitical context," as the reason for the decreased consumption.
They also noted a change in drinking habits, and growing health concerns.
"Belgians are drinking less alcohol overall, and so, less beer."
But it is not just Belgium, European brewers have been grappling with the long-term decline as the European Union has experienced a decline in demand for alcoholic beers, a Eurostat report reveals.
Instead, non-alcoholic beverages are becoming increasingly more popular.
"Five years ago, there was just one non-alcoholic beer, now there are six," bar owner Waldo Marlier told local media when speaking about his own stock.
Non-alcoholic drinks have also seen a rapid rise in the UK, including popular trends such a Dry January which consists of staying sober for the month. It was estimated that 15.5 million people took part in it in the UK in 2025.
Younger generations, increasingly aware of the harmful impact of alcohol on both physical and mental health, are changing the heavy drinking installed by previous generations.
A recent survey published in The Times revealed that almost half of 18- to 34-year-olds have stopped drinking alcohol altogether. Similarly, a 2024 YouGov study found that 44 percent of British people aged 18 to 24 now prefer low or non-alcoholic alternatives.
For many, non-alcoholic options provide a way to moderate consumption, feel included, and maintain better self-control during nights out.
Recent socio-economic events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis, have reshaped our relationship with alcohol, encouraging people to reconsider its financial and personal costs.
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