28 June 2011

A new E. coli outbreak in France, linked to rocket and mustard sprouts, has been linked to an Ipswich grain merchant by the French authorities. The latest outbreak, which is thought to be the same strain as that which killed 46 people in Germany and one in Sweden earlier this month. image expired

The outbreak, localised to Bordeaux, hospitalised nine people, with two said to be in ‘critical condition.’ Although no new cases have been reported, the French government announced it had traced the seeds to Thompson and Morgan, a mailorder seed and plant supplier. The firm rejects the link; however, it has suspended sales of mustard, rocket and fenugreek over the affair.

French authorities publicised the link, stating that at least two of those infected had garnished their food with sprouts from the company’s seeds. UK officials have warned Britons to avoid eating sprouting seeds unless they are cooked, pending an investigation into the French government’s claims.

A spokesperson for Thompson and Morgan, commenting that there has not been a direct link made to the company and, as the outbreak was localised to the Bordeaux region, said "We note that the French outbreak seems to be localised to a specific event, which would indicate to us that something local in the Bordeaux area, or the way the product has been handled and grown, is responsible for the incident rather than our seeds."

The company said it has no plans for a recall of sprouting seeds, saying it has sold thousands of packets of sprouting seeds to customers without any recorded problems, although a spokesperson did explain that “if sprouting seeds are grown in unhygienic conditions then it can be an excellent environment for E-coli to multiply”.

Frederic Lefebvre, France’s secretary of state for consumer affairs, also confirmed that that no substantive link between E. coli symptoms and the eating of sprouting seeds had been established.

The UK Food Standard Agency is investigating the link to the company. The agency said in a statement, "We have asked for further information from the French authorities with regard to the three named type of seeds to help us carry out investigations in the UK."

Link with German E.Coli outbreak

Paul Hunter, an E. coli expert and professor of public health at the University of East Anglia, offered a warning, “We've got a new emergent infection that has rarely been described before and it's cropped up twice in the same food product. That cannot be coincidence."

DEFRA announced arrangements last week for UK growers to apply for remuneration after the European Commission agreed to a €210 million compensation programme for farmers across the EU affected by the German E. coli outbreak. The scheme is only open to growers of tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, capsicum and courgettes and applies to products withdrawn from sale from 18th to 30th June; all applications must be made by this Thrusday, 30th June.