Background: Salmonella Goldcoast (antigenic formula: 6,8:r:l,w) is a serovar of the O:8 (C2-C3) serogroup. S. Goldcoast was isolated for the first time in Ghana in 1953; after the first isolation sporadic cases were identified in Europe. Since 1984-1985, S. Goldcoast started to be more frequently isolated in Europe. By 2010, S. Goldcoast was reported as the 6th most common serovar in cattle in Germany, UK and Spain. Currently, all reported outbreaks linked to S. Goldcoast have occurred in Europe.

Animal reservoir: Salmonella Goldcoast has been isolated from swine and cattle.

Geographical distribution: Salmonella Goldcoast appears to be distributed in several European countries only.

Outbreaks: A number of outbreaks have been linked to Salmonella Goldcoast in Europe, including international outbreaks and a recent outbreak in England linked to seafood.

Year

Location

Associated source

Number of cases

2018NetherlandsPorkAt least 19

2013

England

Whelk

38

2009-2010

Italy

Salami

79

2005

Europe: multi-country

Trip to Majorca

148

2001

Germany

Raw fermented sausages

44

1984

England and Wales

French pate

250

Border rejections: There have been no recent border rejections linked to this serovar. 

Recalls:

YearLocationRecalled foodType
2018Europe: multi-country Netherlands-imported pork1Meat and meat products (other than poultry)

1 This recall was caused by the Dutch outbreak described above. As well as Belgium, 14 other countries including Austria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom received pig meat products. 

Relevant links:

  1. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/12/eus-notable-2018-food-safety-events/
  2. https://www.eurosurveillance.org/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2013.18.49.20654
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23517871/
  4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16794290/#:~:text=International%20outbreak%20of%20Salmonella%20Goldcoast%20infection%20in,Majorca%2C%20September%2DOctober%202005:%20final%20summary.%20Euro%20Surveill.
  5. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-infection/article/outbreak-of-salmonella-goldcoast-infections-linked-to-consumption-of-fermented-sausage-germany-2001/60A4E89BD2F100CEC9AEBC5D7BB1885F
  6. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2082881/
  7. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/12/belgian-agency-issues-warning-about-meat-linked-to-salmonella-outbreak