Update on E. coli outbreak in Germany

The Food Standards Agency is now providing further information in relation to the tragic E. coli outbreak that is taking place in Germany which has now claimed at least ten lives.

The Agency can confirm that the German authorities have identified a source of the outbreak as being organic cucumbers from two provinces in Spain (Almeria and Malaga), with a third suspected source of cucumbers originating in the Netherlands. There is currently no evidence that any affected organic cucumbers from the sources identified have been distributed to the UK.

What you can do to protect yourself and your family?

It's a good idea to wash fruit and vegetables before you eat them to ensure that they are clean, and to help remove germs that might be on the outside. Peeling or cooking fruit and vegetables can also remove these germs.

FACTFILE:

Haemolytic uraemic syndrome is a serious complication of some types of E. coli infection. This outbreak has been associated with a rare strain of E.coli (O104).

For the latest updates visit www.food.gov.uk