The seeds have not infected people with E. coli, reports Reem Leila The European Union has announced that imported Egyptian fenugreek seeds were not behind the E. coli bacteria which has killed 50 people, most of them in Germany. Preliminary investigations conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in cooperation with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) had showed the Egyptian fenugreek seeds could have been to blame. A report issued by both EFSA and ECDC pointed out, "there is still much uncertainty about whether this is truly the common cause of all the infections as there are currently no positive bacteriological results." Fenugreek is a brown seed which could be used as a herb or a spice in many types of curry. Sometimes the seeds are boiled to make a hot drink or used in salads, and as a garnish. The World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that 4,050 infections have been confirmed in 14 European countries, such as France, Britain and Germany. This is in addition to North America, the United States and Canada, since the outbreak of the E. coli bacteria in early May. More than 3,900 infected cases have been registered in Germany or had recently travelled to it. The German and French outbreaks have been linked to sprouted seeds. In a joint statement posted on the ECDC's website late on 29 June, experts from the ECDC and EFSA stated that, "the consumption of sprouts is the suspected medium of infection in both France and Germany. The tracing back is progressing and has thus far revealed that fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt either in 2009 and/or 2010 are implicated in both outbreaks." They also said that contamination of the seeds "could have occurred at any stage in the long and complex supply chain between seed production, transport, packaging and distribution. This would mean that batches of potentially contaminated seeds are still available within the EU countries." Agriculture officials denied the connection and confirmed that export records proved there was no connection between the 2009 batch of seeds and the French or German outbreaks. Head of the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine Ali Suleiman said claims by the EFSA stating that Egyptian fenugreek seeds exported in 2009 and 2010 may have been implicated in the outbreak are "null and void of truth". Suleiman said the existence of the bacteria in Egypt had not been proven and had not been recorded. "The Egyptian company which exported the seeds in 2009 stressed in a letter that it had exported the fenugreek to Holland and not to Germany, Britain or France," added Suleiman. Suleiman said the European Union Commission had sent a letter of apology on 2 July to the EU's 27 countries as well as Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation declaring Egyptian fenugreek seeds were not responsible for infecting people with E. coli bacteria. "The statement is published on the EU Commission official website," stated Suleiman. The strain of E. coli infections in the current outbreaks can cause bloody diarrhoea and, in severe cases, kidney failure and death. The E. coli bacteria thrives in nutrient-rich environments like the inner parts of humans or cows. It has been found to be particularly sticky, making it likely to be able to cling on to leaves, seeds and other foodstuffs. WHO "strongly recommended" that consumers should cook the fenugreek seed and its products properly before eating them.
