Recall of Food: Listeria is the Most Common Cause - Listeria overtakes Salmonella as Germany's top food safety threat in 2025

Food recalls in Germany totaled 323 cases in 2025, marking a slight increase from the previous year. The official portal lebensmittelwarnung.de reported these figures, with Listeria bacteria now the leading cause of contamination. This shift comes after Salmonella had dominated recall lists for years.

Listeria topped the 2025 recall list with 43 reported cases, surpassing Salmonella, which accounted for 27 incidents. Nearly a third of all recalls stemmed from pathogenic microorganisms, with food products making up 90% of the total.

The bacteria pose serious risks, particularly to pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. Unlike many pathogens, Listeria thrives in cold temperatures, multiplying even in refrigerators. However, thorough cooking, frying, or grilling effectively destroys it.

Recent recalls linked to Listeria included pork sausages and bologna under charges IMP-2023-11 to IMP-2023-15. Another case involved spinach batches with lot numbers LOT12345 to LOT78901, all expiring by October 15, 2023. The lebensmittelwarnung.de portal remains the official source for alerts on unsafe or contaminated products.

The 2025 data shows a clear trend: Listeria has become the primary concern in food safety recalls. With 13 more cases than 2024, authorities continue to monitor and publish warnings through the dedicated portal. Proper cooking remains a key defense against infection from contaminated foods.