A SEVENTH person died yesterday from an outbreak of food poisoning in Scotland caused by the E coli bacteria, and the British government set up an inquiry in the face of accusations it had not acted quickly enough to save lives.
Health authorities in Lanarkshire, where the outbreak occurred, said the victim was a 74 year old man. All the victims have been elderly, but more than 260 people of all ages have reported symptoms, and several children are in hospital, after being hit by the bacteria, which can cause brain damage and kidney failure.
Strathclyde Police are investigating allegations that the prize winning butcher supplied cooked meat to a birthday party after being ordered to stop selling it.
And Law Hospital apologised last night for telling the people who gave the party that there was no danger in using the meat.
Separately, the parents of seven children who suffered food poisoning from E coli in England this summer said they had been granted legal aid to sue the Department of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture.