Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is a type of E. coli that can cause severe foodborne disease, including bloody diarrhoea. The main sources are raw or undercooked minced meat, raw milk and vegetables contaminated with faeces, and thorough cooking destroys it.
355 notifications since 1 January 2020 named Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), 1% of all EU notifications in that time. 72 in the 365 days to 8 November 2026, against 60 in the 365 days before, up 20%. 7% were border rejections and 75% had a serious risk decision.
The origins named most often were France (81), Belgium (46) and Brazil (29). The product categories named most often were meat other than poultry (207), milk and milk products (98) and fruit and vegetables (21). The products named most often were beef (89), cheese (87) and minced meat (27).
Explainer sources, checked 18 October 2026: E. coli fact sheet, World Health Organization.
Counts start on 1 January 2020 and run to 8 November 2026, the day the list was last read. A notification that names two countries of origin counts for each. Findings come from our word list matched against the EU subject line, which is never shown; 96% of all notifications match it, the rest count as other finding. Each reference links to the official record on RASFF Window. How this works.
Latest notifications that named Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC)
The newest 25 of 355, newest first, each built from fixed word lists. The reference opens the official record.
- Alert notified by Germany: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in goat meat from the Netherlands, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9701, validated 30 October 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in raisins from Poland, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9594, validated 28 October 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in sausages from the Netherlands, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9463, validated 23 October 2026.
- Alert notified by Italy: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2026.9005, validated 9 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in minced meat from Germany, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.8886, validated 7 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by the Netherlands: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in meat from Ireland, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8798, validated 5 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in minced meat from Germany, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8742, validated 2 October 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Latvia: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in poultry meat from Lithuania, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.8703, validated 1 October 2026.
- Alert notified by France: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from France, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.8677, validated 30 September 2026.
- Alert notified by Italy: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8556, validated 28 September 2026.
- Alert notified by France: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from Denmark, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8123, validated 14 September 2026.
- Alert notified by Luxembourg: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in parsley from France, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8025, validated 11 September 2026.
- Alert notified by the Netherlands: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in yoghurt from the Netherlands, risk decision serious, reference 2026.8004, validated 10 September 2026.
- Information for attention notified by France: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in minced meat from Germany, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7831, validated 4 September 2026.
- Alert notified by Italy: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7680, validated 31 August 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Germany: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in carrots from Denmark, risk decision serious, reference 2026.7638, validated 28 August 2026.
- Alert notified by Belgium: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in lamb or mutton from France, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6954, validated 5 August 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Germany: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in salad leaves from Belgium, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.6859, validated 31 July 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in nuts or seeds from Austria, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6790, validated 30 July 2026.
- Alert notified by France: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from France, risk decision potentially serious, reference 2026.6721, validated 28 July 2026.
- Alert notified by Latvia: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in sausages from Lithuania, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6671, validated 27 July 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Czechia: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in beef from Czechia, risk decision potential risk, reference 2026.6399, validated 17 July 2026.
- Information for attention notified by Belgium: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in beef from Italy, risk decision serious, reference 2026.6272, validated 14 July 2026.
- Alert notified by Belgium: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in cheese from France, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5391, validated 18 June 2026.
- Alert notified by Germany: Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in sausages from Germany, risk decision serious, reference 2026.5247, validated 12 June 2026.
Other bacteria, viruses and parasites: Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, moulds.
The numbers
| Year | Notifications |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 35 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 52 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 63 |
| 2026 (to 8 Nov 2026) | 61 |
| Type | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Border rejection | 24 | 7% |
| Alert | 182 | 51% |
| Information for follow up | 24 | 7% |
| Information for attention | 125 | 35% |
| Risk decision | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Serious | 265 | 75% |
| Potentially serious | 47 | 13% |
| Potential risk | 23 | 6% |
| Not serious | 5 | 1% |
| Undecided | 15 | 4% |
| Product | Notifications |
|---|---|
| Beef | 89 |
| Cheese | 87 |
| Minced meat | 27 |
| Lamb or mutton | 25 |
| Sausages | 19 |
| Game meat | 9 |
| Salad leaves | 7 |
| Dried herbs | 4 |
| Nuts or seeds | 4 |
| Meat products | 3 |
| Origin | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| France | 81 | 23% |
| Belgium | 46 | 13% |
| Brazil | 29 | 8% |
| Netherlands | 29 | 8% |
| Germany | 23 | 6% |
| Italy | 19 | 5% |
| New Zealand | 18 | 5% |
| Poland | 18 | 5% |
| Argentina | 16 | 5% |
| Uruguay | 15 | 4% |
| United Kingdom | 12 | 3% |
| Ireland | 8 | 2% |
| Product category | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Meat other than poultry | 207 | 58% |
| Milk and milk products | 98 | 28% |
| Fruit and vegetables | 21 | 6% |
| Herbs and spices | 9 | 3% |
| Cereals and bakery products | 6 | 2% |
| Nuts, nut products and seeds | 5 | 1% |
| Prepared dishes and snacks | 4 | 1% |
| Poultry meat | 3 | under 1% |
| Food supplements and dietetic foods | 1 | under 1% |
| Other and mixed food products | 1 | under 1% |
| Notifying country | Notifications | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 77 | 22% |
| Netherlands | 73 | 21% |
| Belgium | 53 | 15% |
| France | 41 | 12% |
| Italy | 36 | 10% |
| Spain | 20 | 6% |
| Austria | 7 | 2% |
| Latvia | 7 | 2% |
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