Brussels, 15 nov (EFE).-germinated seeds, which caused a deadly outbreak of the bacteria e. coli in Germany and France months ago, should be subject to more security measures at greater risk of contamination present, as recommended today by the European Agency for food security (EFSA).
Producers must “strive to implement additional measures for food security”, according to the report of a panel of experts on biological risks of EFSA.
Experts conclude that shoots planted “concerns” about the risk of infection microbial, as there are various risk factors of pollution in the entire chain of production.
The document explains that pathogenic bacteria can contaminate the seeds for germination during its production, storage, transport and distribution, and especially highlights the risk of possible contamination of water irrigation and soil.
In addition, the germination of seeds requires high levels of temperature and humidity, that offers “favourable conditions” so that pathogenic bacteria to grow and spread, adds the report.
Another problem is derived from the fact that these outbreaks are consumed raw or minimally cooked, so the potential bacteria are not removed by the cooking.
The Group of experts recognizes the difficulty of detecting contamination from the current analysis on some samples, by which it proposes much broader testing or modify the method of decision of what samples are analysed.
Last spring, a very aggressive with the bacterium e. coli outbreak caused half a hundred dead and some 4,000 affected in Europe, the vast majority in Germany and France.
The EU in July decided to withdraw from the market all seeds imported from Egypt and prohibit its entry into Community territory because of some seeds of fenugreco linked to this outbreak. EFE
