Belgium confirms 306 salmonella cases linked to egg producer as European alert widens
Belgian food safety authorities confirmed at least 306 salmonella infections traced to a poultry farm in Geel, prompting flock culling and product recalls across Belgium and Luxembourg.
Outbreak at the Laerco poultry farm
At least 306 people across Belgium have contracted salmonella poisoning linked to contaminated eggs from the Laerco BV poultry farm in Geel, situated in the province of Antwerp. The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC, known locally as AFSCA) confirmed that clinical samples taken from symptomatic patients matched the specific bacterial strain identified at the Flemish facility. Agency representatives stated that the confirmed case count reflects only diagnosed patients, while the actual number of infections is likely higher because individuals with mild digestive complaints or asymptomatic infections often do not consult medical providers or undergo laboratory testing. No deaths connected to the outbreak have been registered in Belgium.
Chronology of contamination and facility shutdown
Health inspectors first detected Salmonella at the Geel production site in May 2026, when routine testing revealed contamination in one of the farm's four henhouses. Regulators initially permitted the remaining three henhouses to maintain active operations while ordering a localized product recall. A subsequent testing round identified the presence of the bacteria in a second henhouse, leading authorities to order the complete shutdown of the entire agricultural facility in August 2026. On 10 August 2026, inspectors issued a second recall covering all remaining egg batches and oversaw the culling of the farm's entire poultry flock. Belgian health authorities are also investigating whether the genetic strain from Geel matches an ongoing salmonella outbreak in the United Kingdom, where one fatality occurred.
- Inspectors detect salmonella in one of four henhouses at the Laerco farm in Geel
- Authorities close the entire facility, mandate a second egg recall, and cull the poultry flock
- The EU RASFF network registers a serious alert listing nine European countries
- Belgian food safety officials confirm 306 illnesses linked to the farm
European distribution and recall scope
Public health estimates indicate that up to 2 million eggs potentially carrying the bacterial contamination entered commercial channels in Belgium and neighbouring Luxembourg. On 12 August 2026, the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) published a notification designating the situation as serious, listing Belgium alongside the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain. Although initial media reports claimed that retail withdrawals were already taking place in all eight export destinations, FASFC clarified that formal recalls have been executed only in Belgium and Luxembourg. Authorities in the other six European partner nations are currently auditing local supply chains to evaluate whether domestic product recalls are warranted. FASFC also warned that despite retail removals, some contaminated eggs likely remain stored in private household kitchens.
Polish documentation and retail verification
The appearance of Poland on the European alert list generated scrutiny regarding potential retail exposure. FASFC spokesperson Hélène Bonte explained that Poland was included in the RASFF system due to a commercial transaction recorded under the credentials of a Polish enterprise, rather than confirmed shipments entering Polish territory.
On paper it looks like it is a Polish company, but the eggs were never sold in Poland. They were bought here, in Belgium, by a person on our territory, but the receipt was registered to a Polish company.
Bonte stated that while Belgian records strongly point to local consumption, FASFC cannot definitively exclude cross-border transport, leaving final market determinations to Polish inspectors. Poland's General Veterinary Inspectorate received formal inquiries regarding potential domestic distribution but had not issued an official response by Tuesday afternoon. FASFC noted that economic fraud investigations fall under the authority of law enforcement rather than food safety inspectors, while health officials reminded consumers that proper thermal processing of eggs prevents salmonellosis symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.
