Authorities: dangerous bacteria in Spanish cukes
Published 28.05.11 00:24
Throw away potentially tainted food, authorities urge
The Veterinary and Food Administration has issued a warning against eating Spanish-grown cucumbers, as well as cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce from northern Germany.
The broad warning comes after German authorities confirmed the presence of a virulent e. coli bacteria known as VTEC in Spanish-grown cucumbers, but were unable to rule out that other types of vegetables may also be tainted.
The bacteria is being blamed for causing upwards of 10 cases of a life-threatening stomach influenza in Denmark. Scores more have become infected in Germany since mid-May, according to press in that country.
At least three Danes infected with the bacteria have also experienced kidney failure.
Washing does not necessarily remove the bacteria from vegetables, but heating does kill it, according to national lab Statens Serum Institut.
Health authorities advise people to discard food they believe may be carrying the bacteria.
Danish supermarkets have already begun removing potentially tainted products from their shelves.
Stores from the Coop group, which operates Kvickly, SuperBrugsen, Dagli'Brugsen, Fakta and Irma, have pulled the following products
? Chinese cabbage (Kinakål) from Germany
? Iceberg lettuce from Germany
? Rocket lettuce (ruccola)
? Mixed C salad with grana Paradano cheese (Blandet C salat med granaost)
? C chicken salad with pasta (C Kyllingesalat med pasta)
? C 3 x salad (C 3 x salat)
? Organic cucumbers from Spain (Økologiske agurker fra Spanien)
The Dansk Supermarked group, which operates Bilka, Salling, Netto and Føtex stores, has pulled the following:
? Spanish cucumbers (spanske agurker)
? German leaf lettuce (tysk bladsalat)
Published 28.05.11 00:24
Throw away potentially tainted food, authorities urge
The Veterinary and Food Administration has issued a warning against eating Spanish-grown cucumbers, as well as cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce from northern Germany.
The broad warning comes after German authorities confirmed the presence of a virulent e. coli bacteria known as VTEC in Spanish-grown cucumbers, but were unable to rule out that other types of vegetables may also be tainted.
The bacteria is being blamed for causing upwards of 10 cases of a life-threatening stomach influenza in Denmark. Scores more have become infected in Germany since mid-May, according to press in that country.
At least three Danes infected with the bacteria have also experienced kidney failure.
Washing does not necessarily remove the bacteria from vegetables, but heating does kill it, according to national lab Statens Serum Institut.
Health authorities advise people to discard food they believe may be carrying the bacteria.
Danish supermarkets have already begun removing potentially tainted products from their shelves.
Stores from the Coop group, which operates Kvickly, SuperBrugsen, Dagli'Brugsen, Fakta and Irma, have pulled the following products
? Chinese cabbage (Kinakål) from Germany
? Iceberg lettuce from Germany
? Rocket lettuce (ruccola)
? Mixed C salad with grana Paradano cheese (Blandet C salat med granaost)
? C chicken salad with pasta (C Kyllingesalat med pasta)
? C 3 x salad (C 3 x salat)
? Organic cucumbers from Spain (Økologiske agurker fra Spanien)
The Dansk Supermarked group, which operates Bilka, Salling, Netto and Føtex stores, has pulled the following:
? Spanish cucumbers (spanske agurker)
? German leaf lettuce (tysk bladsalat)
