In spring 2016, Greece reported an outbreak caused by a previously undescribed Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype (antigenic formula 11:z41:e,n,z15) via the Epidemic Intelligence Information System for Food- and Waterborne Diseases and Zoonoses (EPIS-FWD), with epidemiological evidence for sesame products as presumptive vehicle. Subsequently, Germany, Czech Republic, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom (UK) reported infections with this novel serotype via EPIS-FWD. Concerned countries in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) adopted a common outbreak case definition. An outbreak case was defined as a laboratory-confirmed notification of the novel Salmonella serotype. Between March 2016 and April 2017, 47 outbreak cases were notified (Greece: n = 22; Germany: n = 13; Czech Republic: n = 5; Luxembourg: n = 4; UK: n = 3). Whole genome sequencing revealed the very close genetic relatedness of isolates from all affected countries. Interviews focusing on sesame product consumption, suspicious food item testing and trace-back analysis following Salmonella spp. detection in food products identified a company in Greece where sesame seeds from different countries were processed. Through European collaboration, it was possible to identify and recall sesame spread as one contaminated food item serving as vehicle of infection and trace it back to its origin.

Baden Wuerttemberg State Health Office Stuttgart Germany

Direction de la Santé Luxembourg Luxembourg

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Surveillance and Response Support Stockholm Sweden

European Food Safety Authority Parma Italy

Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety Crisis Unit Office Foodborne Outbreaks Prevention Berlin Germany

German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Department for Biological Safety Berlin Germany

Hellenic National Public Health Organization Athens Greece

Institute for Hygiene and Environment Hamburg Department of Microbiology Hamburg Germany

Institute for Hygiene and Environment Hamburg Infectious Disease Surveillance Unit Hamburg Germany

Laboratoire National de Santé Département de Microbiologie Dudelange Luxembourg

National School of Public Health National Reference Centre for Salmonella Athens Greece

Public Health England London United Kingdom

Robert Koch Institute Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology Berlin Germany

Robert Koch Institute Department of Infectious Diseases National Reference Centre for Salmonella and Other Bacterial Enteric Pathogens Wernigerode Germany

Státní zdravotní ústav Prague Czech Republic

These authors contributed equally

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