As the Winter Olympics 2026 get underway in Milan and Cortina, experts are urging visitors to take health precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable stay. The games, running from February 6 to 22, will draw thousands of spectators from around the world, increasing the risk of illness transmission in crowded venues.

Respiratory viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, remain active across Europe this winter. Health authorities recommend vaccination, particularly for high-risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and individuals with chronic conditions. Good hand hygiene, use of alcohol-based sanitizers, and avoiding close contact with sick individuals are also advised. Travellers who develop symptoms during their stay are encouraged to wear masks in public, remain indoors, and minimize contact with others where possible.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also advises visitors to check their vaccination status before travelling. Routine immunisations may require adult boosters, with priority given to measles vaccines due to rising global outbreaks, including in parts of Europe. Travellers are advised to complete vaccinations at least two weeks prior to departure and to carry necessary medications and treatments during their trip.

Food safety is another key consideration for visitors. Most illnesses among travellers result from consuming spoiled food or contaminated drinks. Experts recommend eating thoroughly cooked meals, washing fresh fruits and vegetables, and avoiding perishable foods that have been left at room temperature for more than two hours. Tap water in Milan and Cortina is considered safe for drinking.

Large gatherings, such as the Olympic events, can also increase the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Common infections in Europe include chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis, while HIV, viral hepatitis, and mpox can also be transmitted through sexual contact. Health professionals recommend discussing personal risk assessments with a healthcare provider before travel, including the possible use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV and vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and mpox. Travellers should get tested for STIs if they have had unprotected sex or multiple partners, even without symptoms.

By following these measures, visitors can enjoy the Winter Olympics while minimizing health risks. Authorities emphasize that vaccinations, hygiene, safe food and drink practices, and responsible sexual health behaviours remain essential for a safe trip during large international events.

“The Winter Olympics are an exciting opportunity to celebrate sport and culture,” experts said. “But taking simple health precautions can make the difference between a memorable trip and a preventable illness.”

Amid global baby formula recalls, the United Kingdom has confirmed 36 possible intoxication cases. The UK Health Security Agency reported that 36 children showed symptoms consistent with cereulide poisoning after consuming contaminated infant formula.

The cases come as the world’s largest dairy companies face scrutiny over cereulide toxin contamination, prompting widespread product recalls. In the UK, Nestlé and Danone have withdrawn specific batches of formula since the first contamination reports, with the latest recall announced this week.

The issue is not confined to the UK. French authorities are investigating the deaths of two infants who consumed formula from some of the recalled batches, although no confirmed link has been established between the product and the deaths. In Belgium, the Flemish government reported that a baby became ill in January 2026 after consuming contaminated Nestlé formula.

As of 6 February, Nestlé said it had not received any medical reports confirming a direct link between its products and the reported illnesses. The company stressed that it continues to cooperate with regulators and maintain strict safety protocols.

The recalls, which peaked in January, are ongoing. Dairy producers continue to withdraw affected batches from shelves to prevent further incidents. The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) announced plans to introduce the first EU-wide safety limits for cereulide in baby formula.

The EFSA established an Acute Reference Dose (ARfD), setting the maximum safe daily intake of cereulide at 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. For a 4kg newborn, that equates to approximately 0.056 micrograms per day across all formula consumed. Nestlé welcomed the assessment, noting that its internal safety limits are even lower than the new EU guidelines.

Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced by the Bacillus cereus bacteria, which can grow in improperly stored or handled food. In infants, infection can cause vomiting and diarrhoea within 30 minutes to three hours of ingestion, symptoms that closely mimic a common stomach flu.

Health authorities have urged parents to check the batch numbers of formula products at home and follow guidance from retailers regarding returns and replacements. The incident has renewed calls for stronger safety monitoring and stricter hygiene controls in the production and distribution of infant nutrition products.

The UK Health Security Agency continues to investigate the confirmed cases and work with European counterparts to trace the source of contamination. Officials emphasized that while cereulide poisoning is rare, vigilance remains critical to protect the most vulnerable consumers.

A new study suggests ultra-processed foods (UPFs) should face restrictions similar to tobacco, arguing that these products are engineered to drive compulsive consumption and may create addictive behaviors. Researchers from Harvard, Duke, and Michigan universities compared UPFs to cigarettes in design, marketing, and distribution, calling for stricter regulation of the industry rather than relying on individual choice.

“Some ultra-processed foods have crossed a line,” said Ashley Gearhardt, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan and one of the study’s authors. She noted that fizzy drinks, sweets, and fast food are designed less like traditional food and more like cigarettes, optimised for craving, rapid intake, and repeated consumption. “That level of harm demands regulatory action aimed at industry design and marketing, not individual willpower,” Gearhardt added.

The study highlights the growing consumption of UPFs worldwide and their links to serious health risks. Diets high in these products have been associated with obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, heart disease, and certain cancers, the World Health Organization warns. Examples of ultra-processed foods include frozen pizzas, ready-made meals, sweetened breakfast cereals, biscuits, sausages, ice cream, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, and instant noodles.

Researchers argue that many UPFs share more characteristics with cigarettes than with minimally processed fruits and vegetables. Both tobacco and UPFs begin as natural substances with low addictive potential but are industrially engineered to maximise consumption, accessibility, and profit. According to the study, understanding this industrial design should shift the focus from individual responsibility to corporate accountability.

“The foods driving modern epidemics of obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disease are not inherently harmful in their natural form,” the paper notes. “These products are carefully engineered to maximise hedonic impact, consumption, and profitability through industrial processing.”

The study recommends policies modeled on tobacco control to curb the impact of UPFs. Suggestions include taxes on nutrient-poor ultra-processed foods, restrictions on advertising—particularly to children—and reducing availability in hospitals and schools. Researchers also call for clearer product labelling, warning that marketing claims like “low fat” or “high protein” often mask highly processed products as healthier than they are.

Consumption of UPFs is rising rapidly. In the United States, over half of daily calories come from ultra-processed products, while in the United Kingdom, they make up almost two-thirds of adolescent calorie intake. Researchers warn that without targeted regulation, the health burden associated with these products will continue to grow.

By framing ultra-processed foods as industrially engineered and potentially addictive, the study emphasizes the need for regulatory approaches that go beyond education campaigns, aiming to hold manufacturers accountable for design and marketing practices that contribute to global health risks.