Public Health France reported a multi-country outbreak of listeriosis linked to RTE products produced by the Drôme Ardèche Tradition company. The outbreak was caused by Listeria monocytogenes ST 388 with 21 cases in France and one WGS-confirmed case each in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. Including seven cases in January 2026. Two fatalities occurred among individuals over 75 years old with comorbidities. Several agencies participated in the outbreak investigation, including Public Health France, the General Directorate for Food (DGAL), and the National Reference Centre for Listeria at the Pasteur Institute. Genomic sequencing confirmed the genetic match between bacteria found in patients and those present in RTE meat products from the Drôme Ardèche Tradition company, based in Bourg de Péage, Drôme. All patients were hospitalized. All operations at the production site were suspended. A National recall (in French) was issued on 05 Mar 2026, for products including cooked pork roasts, hams, olive-stuffed meat loaves, terrines, quail loins, pâté en croûte, and rolled heads sold between 17 Jan and 28 Feb 2026, with expiration dates extending to 31 Mar 2026. Epidemiological investigations traced the contamination to pâté en croûte eaten by multiple patients, and traceability confirmed that the products came from the same manufacturer. @ https://beaconbio.org/en/event/?eventid=26eeea2b-5b49-488c-9318-bea22d828b41&locations=4373f95c-60ce-456b-891a-c9a52c356f8f&page=2
