Cape Verde’s turquoise waters and all‑inclusive resorts have long drawn British holidaymakers in search of winter sun. Now the archipelago is at the centre of one of the largest group legal actions ever brought by UK tourists, with around 1,700 people suing travel giant Tui over alleged food poisoning and hygiene failures.

The claimants say they suffered severe gastric illnesses while staying at Tui‑booked hotels and resorts on islands including Sal and Boa Vista. Many report symptoms consistent with salmonella, E. coli, shigella and parasitic infections, with some holidaymakers allegedly left with long‑term health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and ongoing fatigue.

Law firm representatives say they have gathered medical records, witness statements and expert reports alleging systemic hygiene lapses. These include claims of undercooked food, buffet dishes left standing for long periods in high temperatures, flies around serving areas, and inadequate cleaning of communal spaces and swimming pools.

Eight deaths are understood to be linked by lawyers to severe gastric illness contracted during Tui package holidays in Cape Verde. In several cases, families say their relatives became unwell shortly after arrival, deteriorated rapidly and later died in hospital either abroad or back in the UK. Coroners’ findings and postmortem reports are expected to form part of the evidence.

Tui, which has flown more than a million customers to Cape Verde in recent years, rejects allegations of negligence. The company says it takes health and safety “extremely seriously”, works closely with hotel partners on hygiene protocols and provides assistance to any customer who becomes ill. It maintains that illness can occur for many reasons when people travel and that each case must be assessed individually.

RIU Hotels and Resorts, which operates several of the properties at the centre of complaints, also defends its record, stating that its Cape Verde hotels comply with stringent international health and hygiene standards and are subject to regular inspections.

The legal action, brought in the UK courts under package travel regulations, could test how far tour operators are responsible for standards at overseas hotels they promote and sell. If successful, it may open the door to further mass claims from holidaymakers who fall ill abroad, and could force major operators to tighten oversight of food safety and sanitation across their global portfolios.