Cucumber E.Coli outbreak

[alan refail]

I was shocked when I came across this yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healt ... in-UK.html

Even worse, they were organic cucumbers.

[Colin Miles]

Hi Alan,

It is unclear where the produce was contaminated, but the fact that there are no reported cases in Spain (so far) does rather point the finger at Germany. The fact that they were organic is probably irrelevant. As one health agency reported, simple hygiene is needed to prevent the spread of the disease and it highlights the need to wash all produce - I am assuming that it is on the cucumbers rather than in them.

[Colin_M]

Agreed, even ones not raised organically might still have had farmyard manure applied to the soil. I guess this is proabably a natural source of several bugs and just needs a sensible approach including washing after picking.

[alan refail]

Hi Colin and Colin

The only reason I mentioned they were organic was, knowing there is a greater market for organic in Germany than in the UK, they were probably bought because they were organic and perceived to be better.

According to reports there have been cases reported in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria. The fact there have been no cases in Spain is, maybe, that the cucumbers were sent for export.

[Nature's Babe]

Alan, I guess those were contaminated on the outside, nothing wrong with the cucumbers if washed, it could have been any cucumbers, I believe they were commercial greenhouse ones.
There is a lot to be said for our own organic cucumbers, I gave my daughter in law one to take home with her last summer, she couldn't resist tasting it, and it tasted so good she continued munching to the end
I gave them another to take home.

[glallotments]

We always wash any produce including home grown but how much washing is needed to remove e-coli?

I've always been a bit worried about salad crops in particular especially when it is possible that rats are around on allotment sites!

[Stephen]

I confess I had never thought about it in connection with veg.
In my ignorance, I had thought that a veggie diet was pretty safe with respect to food poisoning.
I am now better informed.

[KGAdmin]

A professor on Radio4 last night said it was much more likely this outbreak was simply down to the preparation stage of a salad/meal - (maybe a pre-packed meal factory or such?) since the outbreak is focused in Hamburg. if people where suffering effects in several countries - then you could say it was from a farm source more likely.

Amazing to see now Russia has banned all veg imports from the EU today too. Panic is easily spread.


KGAdmin

[Nature's Babe]

Latest says it may be beansprouts made in germany, so you were probably right KG Admin.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13662431

[Stephen]

I wonder if the UK authorities would have managed any better?
Two issues: The treatment and containment of the outbreak - could we (or other countries) have reduced the death toll? (I doubt we would have been different from Germany)
Would we have been less ready to attribute (incorrectly) the blame? (I think we may have been more cautious)

[alan refail]

And it turns out to be German bean sprouts. Haven't we been there before?

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8959

[alan refail]

And it turns out to be German bean sprouts.

...and then again, maybe not.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healt ... routs.html

[Colin Miles]

And it seems that not only may we never know, but the Germans haven't exactly covered themselves in glory.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/

[alan refail]

Looks like the compensation chequebook will need to be coming out.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/ju ... ency-talks

[PLUMPUDDING]

I wonder whether growers could do sample tests before they despatch more susceptible things like salad stuff so any problems are picked up and acted on before they get out to the shops and restaurants. They must have spent vast amounts to grow the veg on such a huge scale that an extra expense for testing shouldn't make so much difference.

Also, no one has said if it makes any difference washing the infected produce and having good hygiene with food preparation generally will offer any protection if we happen to buy some. I suspect it wouldn't make much difference if they are such lethal bacteria and I don't fancy washing food in bleach and cooking salad things isn't an ideal option.

Thank goodness I can get all my salad stuff from the garden, and soon hopefully tomatoes and peppers too.