Fewer restaurant visits, social distancing, and hand washing temporarily halved the number of foodborne illnesses that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the number of cases has returned to pre-pandemic levels, reports Livsmedelsverket (known as the Swedish Food Agency in English). Vegetables and buffet food are the most common causes of food poisoning.
According to Livsmedelsverket’s report on foodborne illness in Sweden during 2022, approximately 2,200 cases were notified to municipal control authorities. Vegetables were the food category that led to the most food poisonings during 2022 with 263 cases, mostly attributed to Salmonella and Cryptosporidia contamination. Buffet food caused the second most cases of foodborne illness with 236 cases.