In 2022, there were 1,165 reported outbreaks of foodborne infections. It is an outbreak when two or more people are sick from the same food. A total of 4,470 people became ill. The number of reports of outbreaks of food-related infections increases every year. In 2016, there were 594 reports with 2,731 sick. The number has thus doubled, the report shows Registration of food-related outbreaks in the Netherlands, 2022 From the RIVM.
Most food poisoning outbreaks go undetected. When outbreaks are reported, the NVWA investigates what caused them. Often, that cause remains unknown. If it is known, it is norovirus, Salmonella and Campylobacter the main enablers.
RIVM receives reports of outbreaks of food-related infections from the NVWA and the GGD. Together, these data provide insight into the causes of outbreaks, how often they occur and possible changes over the years. With these insights, RIVM can advise how people can prevent food poisoning.
The NVWA and GGDs investigate outbreaks of food-related infections and poisonings to prevent more illnesses and outbreaks. The NVWA looks at the food, its origin and where it is prepared. Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) examines the food in the laboratory for the presence of pathogens. With these results, NVWA can oversee safe food preparation The GGD focuses on the people who have eaten contaminated food and tries to trace the possible source(s) through them.
