German authorities have extended their latest E.coli warning from grown bean sprouts to bean sprout seeds, after new evidence suggested that the seeds themselves could be contaminated with E.coli.
The federal institute for risk assessment (BfR) has advised consumers to avoid eating all raw bean sprouts – including those grown from seeds at home.
It said that although the E.coli strain responsible for the current deadly outbreak had not yet been found in home-grown bean sprouts, local authorities in the state of Lower-Saxony believed home-grown sprouts were responsible for a family falling ill with E.coli.
“If the seeds themselves are already contaminated with germs, then even proper kitchen hygiene won’t protect against EHEC (E.coli),” said BfR president Professor Dr Andreas Hensel. “As a precaution, the BfR therefore recommends that consumers also refrain from eating raw home-grown sprouts.”
To date, at least 35 people have died following the E.coli outbreak in Germany.
The federal institute for risk assessment (BfR) has advised consumers to avoid eating all raw bean sprouts – including those grown from seeds at home.
It said that although the E.coli strain responsible for the current deadly outbreak had not yet been found in home-grown bean sprouts, local authorities in the state of Lower-Saxony believed home-grown sprouts were responsible for a family falling ill with E.coli.
“If the seeds themselves are already contaminated with germs, then even proper kitchen hygiene won’t protect against EHEC (E.coli),” said BfR president Professor Dr Andreas Hensel. “As a precaution, the BfR therefore recommends that consumers also refrain from eating raw home-grown sprouts.”
To date, at least 35 people have died following the E.coli outbreak in Germany.
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