Illustrative image: Consensus tree summarized after 1000 non-parametric bootstrap replicates, with support values greater than 60% shown in the nodes. The cluster the Ugandan MR766 prototype strain was highlighted by the yellow sector and the Nigerian cluster was highlighted by the green sector. The strains from Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire are shown in green and orange, respectively. The tree has been rooted with the Spondweni lineage isolated in South Africa was used as outgroup to root the tree. — Faye O, Freire C, Iamarino A, Faye O, de Oliveira J, Diallo M, Zanotto P, Sall A/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
South Africa's Department of Health reported four new mpox cases, bringing the cumulative total since 1 January 2026 to 26 across five provinces. It advised people to watch for symptoms and close contacts to monitor themselves for 21 days.
Illustrative image: Depicts the area of the conflict between the government of Sudan and rebel groups under the umbrella of the Sudan Revolutionary Front currently fighting to overthrow it, as of Christmas Day 2011. — Kudzu1/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Security Council is meeting on Sudan as drone strikes kill civilians and hunger and famine risk spread across Darfur, Kordofan, and Blue Nile. Ambassadors are expected to press for a ceasefire, safe aid access, and an end to weapons flows.
Illustrative image: Middle Bronze Age (c. 1500 BC to c. 1150 BC) cast copper alloy side looped socketed spearhead. The spearhead socket is broadly an elongated sub-triangular in plan and profile with a leaf-shaped blade. The socket is almost complete and is circular at the base and tapers towards the blade. At the lower edge of the socket, on the exterior the surface is slightly off-set, therefore the external diameter of the socket becomes slightly smaller. On the exterior edge of the socket, on either side, there — Birmingham Museums Trust, Angie Bolton, 2019-06-21 10:18:40/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A serious-risk notification reports pyrrolizidine alkaloids in threshed and dried organic savory from Germany, distributed to Romania and other member countries. Quantities, consumer instructions, and health outcomes are not included in the supplied source data.
A serious-risk notification reports pyrrolizidine alkaloids in threshed and dried organic savory from Germany, with distribution to other member countries. The source identifies Germany as an affected distribution country.
An alert reports type A contamination in a thick-sliced almond product and classifies the risk as serious. Distribution to other member countries is stated; further exposure details were not included in the source data received by Planet Briefing.
A serious alert notification reports pyrrolizidine alkaloids in organic savory from Germany. The source identifies Portugal as an affected distribution country and says the product was distributed to other member countries.
A serious-risk information notification reported ergot on triticale feed material, with distribution restricted to the Netherlands. It was published on 16 October 2026.
Illustrative image: Sonnentor, producer of organic herbs, teas and spices in Sprögnitz, Waldviertel , Lower Austria, EU — Naturpuur/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
A serious alert concerns pyrrolizidine alkaloids in organic savory originating in Germany, with distribution reported to Austria and other member countries.
A serious alert concerns Clostridium botulinum type A in blanched sliced almonds, with Hungary identified as an affected distribution country and distribution reported to other member countries.
Illustrative image: Here are most of the spices, seasonings, herbs and vegetables that I'll be using in the dish. Show in the picture are yellow onions, garlic bulbs, limes, fresh ginger, fresh tumeric, parseley, fresh coriander leaves, green cardamom pods, black cardomom seeds, whole cloves, fenugreek seeds, black pepper, dried curry leaves, dried fenugreek leaves, dried bay leaves, whole cumin seeds, whole coriander seeds, raw cashew nuts, cinammon and bird's-eye chili peppers. Most of the dry spices will be roas — Zak Greant from Vancouver, Canada/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A serious alert notification concerns pyrrolizidine alkaloids in threshed and dried organic savory from Germany, with Switzerland named as an affected distribution country. The source reports distribution to other member countries but provides no further details on quantities or health effects.
Illustrative image: Captured this cat in Lom/Norway. For more information about this kind of cats click en:Norwegian Forest Cat or de:Norwegische Waldkatze . 'norwegian cat' On Black . — Thomas Mues from Berlin, Germany/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
A notification reports a metal piece in cat feed originating in China, distributed in Norway and other member countries. The source classifies the risk decision as potentially serious and the notice as follow-up information.
Illustrative image: Surface metal analysis conducted at the British Museum indicated an approximate silver content for the ring of 95%, the remainder being copper with traces of gold and lead; it weighs 2.62 grams. The find consists of a thin strip of silver which has been sharply folded approximately in half and has one slightly constricted, rounded end, while the other end is square and may be original, or has perhaps been cut short; length, 28 mm (extant), or 53 mm (surviving); width, 9 mm. The strip is decorate — Derby Museums Trust, Charlotte Burrill, 2011-12-20 16:01:29/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
A potentially serious information notification reports a metal piece in cat feed from China, with distribution in Sweden and other member countries. The notification is classified for follow-up; additional details were not included in the source data received by Planet Briefing.
Illustrative image: Almond ( Prunus dulcis ) fruit with seeds – in shell, shell cracked open, shelled and blanched seed — Ivar Leidus/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A serious alert concerns a sliced-almond product with a stated Clostridium botulinum type A hazard. The source reports distribution to other member countries and identifies Slovakia as an affected distribution country.
Illustrative image: Medical supplies and other aid for Schastya city hospital (Luhanska oblast, Kyiv Ukraine) piled in volunteer car trunk — kaktuse/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Ongoing Russian attacks across Ukraine have caused serious healthcare disruption. Four strikes on warehouses used by the UN have destroyed more than $1.5 million worth of medicines and supplies.
On Global Handwashing Day, South Africa’s Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Jack Bloom urged parents, teachers, and caregivers to promote handwashing with soap and clean water. The source says handwashing can help prevent disease and save lives.
Illustrative image: International Symposium on Food Safety and Control, “Safe Food for a Better Life”, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 27 May 2024 Organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA — IAEA Imagebank/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
A serious-risk alert concerns Salmonella spp. in organic ground dandelion leaves from Italy, with Austria identified as an affected distribution country. The excerpt also states distribution to other member countries.
A notification dated 15 October 2026 reported Listeria monocytogenes in beef steak tartare from the Czech Republic, distributed in Slovakia. The product was described as presumably no longer on the market.
A serious alert notification reports undeclared sulphites in boiled potato from Austria. The excerpt states that distribution reached other member countries.
A serious-risk alert reports undeclared sulphites in boiled potato from Austria, with distribution to Slovenia and other member countries. Published 15 October 2026.
A serious alert notification reports Salmonella spp. in organic ground dandelion leaves from Italy. Iceland is listed as an affected distribution country, with distribution to other member countries also stated.
A food supplement from Germany was flagged for Salmonella spp.; the alert identifies Finland as an affected distribution country and says distribution reached other member countries. The risk decision is described as potentially serious, and the item was published on 2026-10-15.
A food supplement originating in Germany was reported with Salmonella and distribution to Austria and other member countries. The alert was published on October 15, 2026.
A serious alert concerns Salmonella spp. in organic dandelion leaves originating in Italy, with Germany identified as an affected distribution country. The source reports distribution to other member countries.
An alert notification reported Salmonella spp. in a food supplement from Germany and classified the risk as potentially serious. Distribution to other member countries was indicated.
A serious alert reports Escherichia coli in a batch of clams from France, with Italy identified as an affected distribution country. Distribution to other member countries is reported.
A serious alert concerns organic dandelion leaves with Salmonella; the product originated in Italy, and Sweden is identified as an affected distribution country. Distribution to other member countries is also reported.
Illustrative image: Packaging blood donations (MAMAS CA44-216-15), National Museum of Health and Medicine Description: Technicians at a blood bank packaging blood for shipment. These donations could be used for transfusions. Date: March 1944 Photo ID: MAMAS CA44-216-15 Source collection: OHA 220.1: Museum and Medical Arts Service (MAMAS) Photographs Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives Rights: No known restrictions upon publication, physical copy retained by National Museum o — National Museum of Health and Medicine/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
South African Police Service officers in the Western Cape warned the public against buying medication from unregistered providers after illegal medication was found for sale in Nyanga. A 38-year-old suspect was arrested, and some of the medicine was expired.
A notification reports a label error affecting 150 g cooked ham sandwiches, with Italy identified as the affected distribution country and the risk decision classified as serious. The source does not specify the label defect or any resulting harm.
Illustrative image: Close-up of a Galápagos sea lion ( Zalophus wollebaeki ) in Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal Island , Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. — Diego Delso/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
A label error was reported for 150 g cooked ham sandwiches distributed to San Marino. The source classifies the notification as serious but does not specify the error.
