The UK Health Security Agency has issued a warning as Salmonella cases have reached a decade high, with 10,406 cases recorded in 2025. This marks an increase from 10,389 in 2024, making it the highest figure in ten years. Campylobacter cases also remain elevated, though they decreased slightly from 70,392 in 2024 to 69,394 in 2025. Listeriosis cases have also risen, with 181 cases in England and Wales in 2025 compared to 179 in 2024.
How Infections Spread
Campylobacter and Salmonella infections are typically contracted by consuming contaminated food, including poultry, meat, eggs, raw fruit or vegetables, and unpasteurised milk products. Infection can also spread through direct contact with an infected person, especially in domestic settings, or via cross-contamination in the kitchen when using the same utensils for raw and cooked food. Listeriosis is caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria and is usually contracted by eating contaminated raw, chilled, or ready-to-eat foods.
Symptoms to Watch For
All these gastrointestinal infections can cause similar symptoms, including diarrhoea (occasionally bloody), stomach cramps, vomiting, and mild fever. Most people recover within one to two weeks, but young children, elderly people, and those with compromised immune systems face a higher risk of severe illness or complications.
Listeriosis Risks
Listeriosis can cause severe illness in elderly people, those who are immunocompromised, or those with underlying health conditions. During pregnancy, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious illness in newborns. In 2025, there were 141 non-pregnancy-associated cases, with 28 deaths (19.9%). Among 40 pregnancy-associated cases, nearly a third (31.4%) resulted in stillbirth or miscarriage.
Official Statements
Dr Gauri Godbole, Deputy Director for Gastrointestinal Infections at UKHSA, said: 'We are seeing consistently high levels of gastrointestinal infections in England. We continue to work closely with partners to detect, investigate, and stop the spread of these infections. These infections spread in many ways - through contaminated food or water, contact with an infected person, or contact with infected animals or their environment. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water, particularly after using the toilet, handling raw meat, eating, and contact with animals or farms, can help prevent infection. Anyone experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting should avoid handling or preparing food for others, should not return to work, and children should not attend school or nursery until at least 48 hours after symptoms have cleared.'
Dr James Cooper, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency, added: 'Public safety is our highest priority and we're working closely with UKHSA and other partners to understand the reasons behind the rise in Campylobacter and Salmonella cases, so we can take the necessary action to protect public health. We're also supporting businesses to meet their legal responsibility to keep food safe, and we encourage consumers to check Food Hygiene Ratings at food.gov.uk when they are eating out. People can reduce their risk of food poisoning at home by following the 4Cs of food hygiene: chilling, cleaning, cooking, and avoiding cross-contamination.'
