Health · Public Health & Disease · 9 hrs ago
Emilia-Romagna bars raw cherry tomatoes in schools and care facilities
Emilia-Romagna has barred raw datterini and cherry tomatoes from public and private school, hospital, social-care and care-home meal services.
The regional order, signed by President Michele de Pascale, is a precaution against salmonella linked to eating the tomatoes raw.
The concern follows cases recorded in several European countries and Italian regions between 2024 and 2026.
In Emilia-Romagna, 112 cases were genetically linked to the tomato contamination, but the region says it has had no major outbreaks.
Piacenza has reported no cases of the specific salmonella strain, according to a local health official.
The restriction remains in force until further notice, and the region says it may end once the source of contamination is traced; it recommends briefly cooking the tomatoes to avoid risk.
Emilia-Romagna has ordered public and private collective catering services to stop serving raw cherry and datterini tomatoes.
The precautionary order applies to school, social-care and hospital catering, and care homes.
The regional order was signed by President Michele de Pascale on 22 October 2026 and remains in force until further notice.
Authorities cited salmonellosis cases recorded in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and links to raw tomatoes.
Genomic surveillance identified 112 genetically associated cases in Emilia-Romagna, but a regional official said there were no major outbreaks.
- Who
- Emilia-Romagna regional authorities issued the order. It applies to public and private collective catering operators.
- What
- Serving raw cherry and datterini tomatoes has been suspended.
- When
- The order was signed on 22 October 2026 and reported on 23 October. It remains in force until further notice.
- Where
- School, social-care and hospital catering services, and care homes across Emilia-Romagna.
- Why
- The measure is precautionary and aims to protect public health amid salmonellosis cases associated with raw tomatoes.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Salmonellosis cases were recorded in several European countries and Italian regions, with links reported to raw cherry and datterini tomatoes.
Genomic surveillance identified 112 cases in Emilia-Romagna genetically associated with salmonella contamination in tomatoes.
President Michele de Pascale signed the regional order suspending the serving of raw cherry and datterini tomatoes in specified catering settings.
News outlets reported the order and its precautionary rationale.
- Order
- Emilia-Romagna regional ordinance No. 122
- Signed
- 22 October 2026
- Affected tomato varieties
- Cherry and datterini
- Duration
- Until further notice
- Cases in Emilia-Romagna
- 112 genetically associated cases recorded from 2024 to 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
For the precautionary principle, in order to ensure the highest protection of public health, the serving of tomatoes, datterini and cherry varieties, not subjected to heat treatment by cooking, is to be suspended at all public and private operators of school, social-care and hospital collective catering and care homes, until further notice.
We have issued an order aimed at the most sensitive populations, namely school-age people and older people.
We do not have real outbreaks.
I hope that in the coming weeks the Ministry of Health will identify the source of the contamination.