10 June 2011

European farmers, whose businesses have been affected by a virulent E Coli outbreak, the epicentre of which is Northern Germany, say that the EU’s proposed €210m payout will not cover their losses. Farmers estimate their losses to be as high as €417m a week, after consumers were warned off eating tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce unless they are cooked. image expired

German health officials confirmed yesterday that three more people have died from the infection, bringing the toll to 29 in under six weeks, with around 2,900 cases reported. On Wednesday, the European Union agreed to pay 210 million Euros to farmers who have suffered losses due to the outbreak.

At a crisis meeting held in Luxembourg, Spain in particular criticised German officials for blaming its cucumbers and causing panic over European produce, which has resulted in blanket bans on European fruit and vegetables from Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Copa-Cogeca, the EU farmers’ federation, welcomed the union’s emergency measures, but warned that even the improved compensation offer will not be enough to lift affected farmers out of crisis. Amanda Cheesley, Communications Officer at Copa-Cogeca, told Farming Online, “I would not say we have turned [the offer] down. We welcome the move, and say it is a step in the right direction, but warn it is not sufficient to cover our losses which reach 400 million euros per week in 8 member states”

Speaking on Wednesday, Copa-Cogeca Secretary-General Pekka Pesonen insisted, "More funds must be made available to help pull the sector out of this deep crisis. Savings in agriculture expenditure have been made this year from the budget of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and this must be used to assist all growers and producers organizations hit by this crisis.”

Meanwhile, Dutch authorities have recalled red beet sprouts from three countries after samples were found to be contaminated with a different strain of E. coli bacteria. Dutch officials said the strain was less dangerous than that which has struck Germany.

A CNN video report covering the latest developments in the E Coli outbreak is available here.