Humphrey Errington said that independent experts and government agency tests had cleared Dunsyre Blue cheese from the Scottish E.coli outbreak that hospitalised two people last month. Errington Cheese had recalled its Dunsyre Blue cheese voluntarily after HPS and FSS found a number of E.coli patients had consumed the cheese before becoming unwell.
Errington told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “We can now say with absolute confidence that, following comprehensive tests and the examination of an independent expert microbiologist, there is no evidence whatsoever for any link to the recent outbreak of illness. The government agency tests have all also proved negative.
‘Malicious prejudice’
Lanarkshire E.coli outbreak – at a glance
- 16 cases of E.coli identified
- HPS linked cases to Dunsyre Blue cheese
- Errington Cheese recalled 180kg of product
“We have to conclude that the HPS/FSS position is based on a malicious prejudice against raw milk cheese, and this threatens not just our business, but the reputation of the whole British artisan cheese industry, one of the greatest success stories of recent years.”
HPS responded to Errington’s claim by insisting its approach followed standard procedure. It also said that investigations were ongoing, and Dunsyre Blue cheese remained the likely source of the E.coli outbreak.
HPS told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “This standard approach is applied to every incident and we are satisfied that our approach has been proportionate and reasonable based on evidence.
‘Remains the most likely source’
“Based on the detailed information available to the multi-agency team [working on the case], Dunsyre Blue cheese remains the most likely source of this outbreak, with confirmed cases becoming unwell between July 2 and 15.”
Sixteen cases of E.coli were identified in total, in what was the most recent UK outbreak. The Scottish health watchdog said it would respond in more detail when its investigation was declared over.
The Scottish outbreak followed news that two people died in July from E.coli found in mixed salad leaves. The mixed salad leaf outbreak infected 161 people in total, but was declared over yesterday (August 15).
What they say about the Lanarkshire E.coli outbreak
Errington Cheese:
“We have to conclude that the HPS/FSS position is based on a malicious prejudice against raw milk cheese, and this threatens not just our business, but the reputation of the whole British artisan cheese industry, one of the greatest success stories of recent years.”
Health Protection Scotland:
“Based on the detailed information available to the multi-agency team [working on the case], Dunsyre Blue cheese remains the most likely source of this outbreak.”