Egypt denies being source of E.coli

July 08, 2011 08:37 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 05:07 am IST - Cairo

An Egyptian spice dealer displays fenugreek seeds at his shop in Cairo. Health experts warned Thursday there could be more E. coli cases across Europe and elsewhere after finding recent deadly outbreaks were probably linked to contaminated Egyptian fenugreek seeds. File photo

An Egyptian spice dealer displays fenugreek seeds at his shop in Cairo. Health experts warned Thursday there could be more E. coli cases across Europe and elsewhere after finding recent deadly outbreaks were probably linked to contaminated Egyptian fenugreek seeds. File photo

Egypt has denied reports that the country’s fenugreek seeds exported to Europe caused the E.coli infections that claimed dozens of lives.

Officials from the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine took and analysed fenugreek seeds from the warehouse of the exporter and all results were negative, Xinhua reported citing a statement from the agricultural ministry.

“E.coli strain has not been reported in Egypt and no illness cases have been found,” it said.

If fenugreek sprouts are suspected to be contaminated with E.coli strain, it could be related to different handling processes, such as re-packing or water used for sprouting, it added.

The European Union has agreed to ban import of certain seeds from Egypt.

The European Food Safety Authority had published Tuesday a report on the E.coli outbreak in Germany and France. It indicated that fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt were the most likely source of the outbreak.

The outbreak has killed over 50 people in Europe since it was first reported in May.

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