Over 160 Fall Ill After Suspected Salmonella Outbreak at Spanish Food Festiva
SPAIN – Over 160 people have been infected with Salmonella following a major outbreak at a music and food festival in Spain, authorities confirmed.
The illnesses were linked to the Trasan Fest, held on June 27 and 28 in Oza-Cesuras, A Coruña, with 162 reported cases and 22 requiring hospital treatment.
Health officials from the Galician Health Service (Sergas) issued an alert after initial investigations identified a food stall selling tortillas — a traditional Spanish dish made with eggs and potatoes — as the likely source of contamination.
Epidemiological surveys are underway to confirm the origin of the outbreak. “We are collaborating with the authorities to locate the source of the incident, likely linked to a raw material supplied by one of our suppliers,” festival organisers said in a statement, expressing regret over the situation.
The consumer protection group FACUA Galicia has called on the regional Ministry of Health to launch stricter inspections of food vendors at music festivals and cultural gatherings to prevent similar incidents.
They also urged the public to ensure proper documentation when seeking compensation.
As Mirror UK reported, FACUA advised that individuals who fell ill may be entitled to financial compensation, provided they can produce medical reports confirming the illness and proof of having consumed food from the event.
In 2023, Salmonella was the leading cause of foodborne outbreaks in Spain, accounting for 350 incidents, 2,747 infections, 356 hospitalisations, and four deaths.
Many of those outbreaks were traced to improperly handled egg-based products, including tortillas.
Public health officials continue to monitor those affected and are reminding food vendors to comply with strict hygiene and storage protocols during high-traffic public events.
