Multiple retail chains withdraw spice blends due to rosemary contaminated with Salmonella

In September 2025, an internal quality control detected that rosemary used in various aromatic plant and spice blends marketed by different distributors in Switzerland was contaminated with Salmonella. The food safety authority issued a public warning affecting multiple products from different distribution chains, with various batch numbers and expiration dates extending to 2027. Products were available for sale between July 12 and September 10, 2025 in supermarkets and online stores, and those already purchased could be returned for reimbursement.

Dried spices present a particular challenge for Salmonella control because the drying process, which reduces the water activity of the product, does not eliminate the pathogen: the bacterium can survive in a latent state in dehydrated herbs for months, and only becomes active when rehydrated in contact with a moist food. This means that a batch of rosemary contaminated at source — likely through contact with irrigation water, contaminated soil or unhygienic drying surfaces — can remain as a latent risk in the distribution chain for an extended period before being detected.

This episode confirms that traceability of fresh agricultural ingredients back to individual suppliers is essential even in product categories — such as dried spices — that are traditionally perceived as low microbiological risk due to their low water activity.