diff --git a/lib/Service/SubmissionService.php b/lib/Service/SubmissionService.php
index 04cc650c9..7d2b2be7d 100644
--- a/lib/Service/SubmissionService.php
+++ b/lib/Service/SubmissionService.php
@@ -340,9 +340,12 @@ private function exportData(array $header, array $data, string $fileFormat, ?Fil
 						->setWrapText(true);
 				} else {
 					// Explicitly set the type of the value to string for values that start with '=' to prevent it being interpreted as formulas
-					if (is_string($value) && str_starts_with($value, '=')) {
+					if (is_string($value)) {
 						$activeWorksheet->getCell([$column, $row])
-							->setValueExplicit($value);
+							->setValueExplicit($fileFormat === 'csv'
+								? $this->escapeCSV($value)
+								: $value,
+							);
 					} else {
 						$activeWorksheet->setCellValue([$column, $row], $value);
 					}
@@ -360,6 +363,19 @@ private function exportData(array $header, array $data, string $fileFormat, ?Fil
 		return file_get_contents($exportedFile);
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Escape a value for writing it to a CSV file.
+	 * This is needed to ensure the CSV, when loaded into an spreadsheet application, does not execute potential formulas.
+	 */
+	private function escapeCSV(string $value): string {
+		$BAD_CHARACTERS = ['=', '+', '-', '@', "\t", "\r"];
+		if (strlen($value) > 0 && in_array(mb_str_split($value)[0], $BAD_CHARACTERS)) {
+			// Escape the value by adding a leading single quote
+			return "'$value";
+		}
+		return $value;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Validate all answers against the questions
 	 * @param array $questions Array of the questions of the form