Friday

1st Dec 2023

Germany retracts link between E coli and Spanish cucumbers

Germany has conceded it is unsure whether Spanish cucumbers are the source of the country's recent E coli outbreak, fanning a pan-European row as plummeting vegetable sales continue to hurt producers.

Meanwhile the death toll continued to rise on Tuesday (31 May), with a Swedish woman succumbing to the bacteria after returning from a visit to Germany where 15 people have died.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

Officials in the northern German city of Hamburg said fresh tests carried out on Spanish cucumbers, initially cited as the most likely cause of the outbreak, may not be to blame after all.

Roughly 1000 suspected cases of infection have been reported across Europe, including over 300 people who are seriously ill.

As the tension mounted, Spanish agriculture minister Rosa Aguilar devoured a homegrown cucumber of national television to show her confidence in the oblong green vegetable, launching a blistering attack on Germany for its handling of the outbreak.

"Germany accused Spain of being responsible for the E coli contamination ... and it did it with no proof, causing irreparable damage to the Spanish production sector," Aguilar said.

Attending an informal meeting of EU agriculture ministers in Debrecen, eastern Hungary, Aguilar estimated the loss in vegetable sales was costing her country "more than €200 million a week".

Germany, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Hungary, Sweden, Belgium and Russia are among country's to have banned Spanish cucumbers, although sales to German supermarkets were reported to have reopened on Wednesday morning, according to Spain's El Pais newspaper.

Also at the Hungary meeting, German agriculture secretary Robert Kloos said: "Germany recognises that the Spanish cucumbers are not the cause."

Hunting for a solution, Aguilar said all European vegetable producers who had experienced losses due the health scare should be compensated, a position that was echoed by the Netherlands, whose exports have also suffered.

"We need a European solution to a European problem," the Spanish minister said.

EU agriculture commissioner Dacian Ciolos indicated that he was willing to consider "all courses of action to aid producers", but added that his room for manoeuvre was limited.

In a statement, EU health and consumer policy commissioner John Dalli said a resolution to the ongoing issue was an "absolute priority", advising European citizens to apply common hygiene rules such as the washing of fruit and vegetables to limit the risk of contamination.

Amid the ongoing debate, Hamburg state health minister Cornelia Pruefer-Storcks defended her decision last week to link the German E coli outbreak with Spanish cucumbers.

"It would have been irresponsible with this number of ill people to keep quiet about a well-grounded suspicion," she said. "Protecting people's lives is more important than economic interests."

Analysis

What are the big money debates at COP28 UN climate summit?

The most critical UN climate conference (COP28) ever will run from Thursday to mid-December — with talks on climate commitments and climate finance expected to determine the success of this year's summit.

Opinion

'Pay or okay?' — Facebook & Instagram vs the EU

Since last week, Mark Zuckerberg's Meta corporation is forcing its European users to either accept their intrusive privacy practices — or pay €156 per year to access Facebook and Instagram without tracking advertising.

Opinion

'Pay or okay?' — Facebook & Instagram vs the EU

Since last week, Mark Zuckerberg's Meta corporation is forcing its European users to either accept their intrusive privacy practices — or pay €156 per year to access Facebook and Instagram without tracking advertising.

Latest News

  1. Israel recalls ambassador to Spain in new diplomatic spat
  2. Migrant return bill 'obstructed' as EU states mull new position
  3. Paris and Berlin key to including rape in gender-violence directive
  4. What are the big money debates at COP28 UN climate summit?
  5. 'Pay or okay?' — Facebook & Instagram vs the EU
  6. EU offers Turkey upgrade, as Sweden nears Nato entry
  7. Russia loses seat on board of chemical weapons watchdog
  8. Finland's closure of Russia border likely violates asylum law

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  3. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  4. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?
  5. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsThis autumn Europalia arts festival is all about GEORGIA!
  6. UNOPSFostering health system resilience in fragile and conflict-affected countries

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us