E coli outbreak blamed on Egyptian fenugreek seeds

Single shipment most likely source of deadly epidemic in Germany, France and US, says food safety watchdog A single shipment of fenugreek seeds from Egypt is the most likely source of an E coli epidemic in Germany that has killed 49 people. It is also thought to be behind a smaller outbreak in France, European investigators said on Tuesday. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has urged the European commission to make “all efforts” to prevent any further consumer exposure to suspect seeds and advised consumers not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they are cooked thoroughly. More than 4,100 people in Europe and the US have been infected in two outbreaks of E coli infection – one centred in northern Germany; the other around the French city of Bordeaux. Almost all of those affected in the first outbreak – the deadliest on record – lived in Germany or had recently travelled there. The infection has killed 48 people in Germany and one person in Sweden. “The analysis of information from the French and German outbreaks leads to the conclusion that an imported lot of fenugreek seeds which was used to grow sprouts imported from Egypt by a German importer is the most common likely link,” the EFSA said. It added that “other lots of fenugreek imported from Egypt during the period 2009 to 2011 may be implicated” and said forward-tracing investigations should be carried out in all countries that might have received seeds from the lots concerned. The strain of E coli infections identified in the outbreaks – known as Stec O104:H4 – can cause serious diarrhoea and, in severe cases, kidney failure and death. E coli Egypt Health Middle East Africa Food safety Food & drink Germany Europe France United States guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 5, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.