Egyptian Fenugreek Seeds Blamed for E. coli Outbreak

PARMA, ItalyThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Task Force investigating the source of the French and German outbreaks of E. coli O104:H4 has concluded that one lot of fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt and used to produce sprouts is the most likely common link between the two outbreaks that killed 48 and sickened more than 4,178.

In light of the findings, EFSA continues to advise consumers not to grow sprouts for their own consumption and not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they have been cooked thoroughly.

In a letter to the European Commission, EFSA outlined the principal conclusions of its report and identified several recommendations related to preventing possible consumer exposure to the suspect seeds as well as the value of carrying out a risk assessment on sprout production and processing in view of further protecting public health.