More than 80 people in France have been infected with salmonella since the spring after eating pumpkin seeds sold mainly by the supermarket chain Grand Frais, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Health announced on Friday, September 4.
A total of 81 people were infected, according to the two ministries. Six of them were hospitalised and two others went to emergency departments because of their infection. All of the patients recovered and were able to return home, the authorities said.
How the cluster was identified
Santé publique France, working with the National Reference Centre for Salmonella at the Institut Pasteur, identified a genomic cluster of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to the same bacterial strain in all 81 cases, the ministries said. The strains were isolated from sick patients between May 3 and August 12, 2026, and the cases were spread across several regions of France.
The pumpkin seeds were processed by a producer in the Lot-et-Garonne department in southwestern France and sold mainly through Grand Frais, though the exact source of the contamination has not been clearly identified. The seeds were sold both on their own and in seed mixes, and other distributors besides Grand Frais also carried them. Organic food shops were not affected, the ministries said.
Symptoms and health risks
Salmonella infections typically cause diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain. In healthy adults, the resulting gastroenteritis usually clears up on its own within three to five days. But the Institut Pasteur warns that if the bacteria enters the bloodstream, the infection can become severe or even fatal in the elderly, infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness worldwide and is usually associated with contaminated meat, poultry or eggs, though this outbreak shows plant-based products such as seeds can also carry the bacteria. France records roughly 198,000 cases of salmonellosis every year, of which about 183,000 are linked to food, according to Santé publique France.
Product recalls and next steps
Two recall notices have already been published on the French product recall website Rappel Conso covering pumpkin seed products sold at Grand Frais, including some distributed by the supplier Agidra, sold in various formats and as part of seed mixes. Further recall notices covering other distributors are expected to be published on the same site.
Grand Frais is a French retail chain built around fresh food counters for produce, meat, fish and dairy, with stores across the country.
Health authorities are advising anyone who has eaten the affected products and who develops symptoms to consult a doctor.
