Irish consumers have been urged not to eat raw bean sprouts after an E.coli outbreak in France similar to a recent one in Germany that claimed 37 lives.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said on Saturday French authorities are investigating an outbreak of food-borne illness caused by Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) 0104:H4.
It is the same strain as that identified in the recent large outbreak in Germany associated with bean sprouts.
“Preliminary indications suggest that bean sprouts could be also be implicated in this French outbreak,” the authority said.
As yet, no case of human illness associated with the same E.coli bacterium have been found.
“However, until further information is available, as a precautionary measure the FSAI is advising Irish consumers not to eat raw bean sprouts.”
There have been eight reported cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome in people affected by the bug in France – a complication that affects the kidneys, blood and nervous system.
Most of those people had eaten bean sprouts (sprouted seeds), the authority said.
“Given that the causative microbe is the same as in the outbreak in Germany, it is considered by the French at this time that bean sprouts are the most likely cause of the outbreak there.”
The source of the bean sprouts or the seeds from which they were sprouted is not known at this time and is the subject of ongoing investigation.
The authority said the implicated bean sprouts were unlikely to have originated in the German organic bean sprout farm as this farm is closed and it is known not to have exported bean sprouts.
“This French outbreak is thought to be separate from that which is ongoing in Germany. The French authorities are carrying out a full investigation including traceback and microbiological examination of suspect foodstuffs.”
Authority chief executive Prof Alan Reilly said until the precise source of the outbreak was identified, consumers were advised not to eat raw bean sprouts. Caterers were also advised not to serve such sprouts.
“Bean sprouts (or sprouted seeds) are produced from a wide variety of seeds. Despite extensive investigation across Germany the exact type or origin of contaminated beans/seeds has not yet been identified," he said.
“This second outbreak in France suggests that there could be a source of contaminated seeds in Europe that are being used to produce sprouts.”
The authority said it would continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as and when necessary.