EC bans Egyptian seed imports as fenugreek linked to deadly E.coli outbreaks
EFSA said yesterday that one lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt was the “most likely common link between the two outbreaks” of E.coli O104:H4, which killed 48 people in Germany and 15 in France.
However, other batches of fenugreek imported from the country between 2009 and 2011 may also be implicated.
Consequently, EFSA recommended to the EC that tracing be conducted in all countries that may have received seeds from the concerned lots.
“EFSA continues to advise consumers not to grow sprouts for their own consumption and not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they have been cooked thoroughly,” it said.
However, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) said that evidence linking the outbreaks to the fenugreek seeds "was not definitive and [EFSA] investigations are continuing".
Limited compensation
The UK Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) said yesterday that lost sales revenues for cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuces had cost UK producers £54m, since the onset of the German E.coli crisis. Beansprout sales were also down 30%.
The FPC said that the FSA in the UK had applied an overly cautious approach to advice given out to consumers, telling them to avoid raw sprouted seed products. The FPC called on the FSA to "clarify its guidance urgently", and also asked the EC to compensate affected UK businesses.
FPC chief executive Nigel Jenney said: “It is appalling that there has been no recognition of the broader impact on other companies beyond the farm gate and only limited compensation offered to UK growers for just a few weeks of this protracted period.
"The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Business, Industry and Skills must come off the fence, and the Department of Health must reinforce the benefits of eating fresh produce. We want to see the UK Government do more to fight the cause for the UK industry with the EC and rebuild UK consumer confidence."
FSA advice unchanged
But the FSA said today that its advice to consumers remained unchanged. Sprouted seeds should only be eaten if cooked thoroughly until steaming hot throughout, and should not be eaten raw, it added.
The authority said that a UK company linked to the outbreak in France was the only UK food business currently known to have received the implicated fenugreek seeds via the German importer.
Alison Gleadle, FSA director of food safety, said: "Samples of the implicated seeds from the company are currently being tested for E. coli O104:H4.
"However, the EFSA report emphasises that test results will not give the whole picture. Distribution records and epidemiological evidence must also be considered before the source of the outbreaks is confirmed.
"As part of the investigation we are also working with seed suppliers and producers of sprouted seeds to evaluate their quality control systems, and we will shortly be issuing guidance to industry.’"
