Task Force on E. Coli Outbreak Blames Egyptian Seed

The European Food Safety Authority task force has concluded that a single lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt, and then used to grow sprouts, is to blame for the deadly E. coli outbreaks in Germany and France.

The European Food Safety Authority task force has concluded that a single lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt, and then used to grow sprouts, is to blame for the deadly E. coli outbreaks in Germany and France.

The report issued on Tuesday found that the seeds are “the most likely common link between the two outbreaks,” but that the problem might not be restricted to a single lot of seeds. It indicated that other batches of fenugreek imported from Egypt between 2009 and 2011 could also be implicated. Given this, the agency recommends considering “all lots of fenugreek from the identified exporter as suspect.”

In Germany, between May 1 and June 28, a total of 47 people died and almost 4,000 people fell ill with diarrhea.

In France, as of June 28, there had been a total of 16 cases, 11 of who had attended an event near Bordeaux.

Since the extent of the contamination is still not clear, the agency advises consumers “not to grow sprouts for their own consumption and not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they have been cooked thoroughly.”