EFSA taskforce report on E. coli O104 outbreaks

Tuesday 5 July 2011

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has today published its report into the possible source of the recent E. coli O104 outbreaks in Germany and France. In line with this report, the Food Standards Agency is confirming its current precautionary advice.

The EFSA report concludes that a batch of fenugreek seeds, originally supplied from a company in Egypt to a German company, is the most likely link between the two outbreaks.

However, evidence linking the two outbreaks to the implicated batch of fenugreek seeds is not definitive and investigations are continuing. EFSA has said because the risk of cross-contamination between different seeds cannot be ruled out, its consumer advice has not changed. Its advice is for consumers not to eat sprouted seeds unless they have been cooked thoroughly.

The Food Standards Agency’s advice is also unchanged. Sprouted seeds should only be eaten if they have been cooked thoroughly until steaming hot throughout; they should not be eaten raw. Equipment that has been used for sprouting seeds should be cleaned thoroughly after use. People should always wash their hands before and after handling seeds intended for planting or sprouting as well as when preparing food. This advice is being kept under review.

A UK company that has been linked to the outbreak in France is the only UK food business currently known to have received the implicated fenugreek seeds via the German importer of the affected batch.

Alison Gleadle, Director of Food Safety at the Food Standards Agency, 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.’