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London/Berlin - Imported fenugreek seeds from Egypt may be
the source of highly toxic E. coli outbreaks in Germany and France that have
killed at least 48 people, according to initial investigations by European
scientists.
More than 4 000 people across Europe and in North America
have been infected in the deadliest outbreak of E. coli so far recorded, which
started in early May. Almost all of those sickened lived in Germany or had
recently travelled there.
The German outbreak and a smaller cluster of E. coli centred
around the French city of Bordeaux have both been linked to sprouted seeds.
Experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority said initial
investigations suggested that "the consumption of sprouts is the suspected
vehicle of infection in both the French cluster and the German outbreak.
"The tracing back is progressing and has thus far shown that
fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 and/or 2010 are implicated
in both outbreaks," they said in a joint statement posted on the ECDC’s website
late on Wednesday.
The European investigators said that since contamination of
the seeds could have occurred at any stage in the long and complex supply chain
between seed production, transport, packaging and distribution, "this would
also mean that other batches of potentially contaminated seeds are still
available within the EU (European Union), and perhaps outside".
The strain of E. coli infections in the current outbreaks -
known as STEC O104:H4 - can cause serious diarrhoea and, in severe cases,
kidney failure and death.
The ECDC and EFSA said a batch of fenugreek seeds imported
from Egypt in 2009 appeared to be implicated in the outbreak in France, and a
2010 batch was "considered to be implicated in the German outbreak".
But they said there was still "much uncertainty" about
whether these seeds from Egypt were "truly the common cause of all the
infections” as there are currently no positive bacteriological results.
"Until the investigation has been finalised, ECDC and EFSA
strongly recommend advising consumers not to grow sprouts for their own
consumption and not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they have been
cooked thoroughly,” they said.
E. coli bacteria thrive in nutrient-rich environments like the guts of humans or cows. The STEC O104:H4 strain has been found to be particularly sticky, making it likely to be able to cling on to leaves, seeds and other foodstuffs.
Fenugreek is used as a herb, a spice in many types of curry,
and for spouting seeds used in salads, and as a garnish.
