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Get your free copy- The recent E.coli outbreak hasn't spread to the UK food chain, but concerned shoppers are still flocking to local food stores to stock up on homegrown produce
So far the food poisoning bug has killed 22 making it the most dangerous in modern history. At least 11 people have been struck down in Britain so far, with the number rising to over 2000 worldwide.
Spanish cucumbers were originally thought to be to blame for the outbreak, but suspicion is now being levelled at German-produced beansprouts. Although there has been no suggestion that the deadly E.coli strain has made its way into any British food, shoppers are seeking reassurance by buying from trusted local sources.
Rob Bowers, manager of Woody’s Fruit and Veg in Tewkesbury, told This is Gloucestershire, “A lot of people have been asking at the till but of course this has not affected us. We shift 80 cucumbers a day. People would be disappointed if we were selling Spanish cucumbers when we have British produce available.”
Many experts are blaming the industry’s overly-complicated supply chain, saying it takes far too long to track down the source of a rogue problem. The NFU has advised worried consumers to stick to home-grown fruit and vegetables.
“Consumers buying British produce should not be alarmed,” says Hayley Campbell-Gibbons, chief horticulture adviser at the organisation. “I would encourage them to look out for the Red Tractor logo on the food they buy.”
“This means that the fruit and vegetables have been produced on farms that are managed by well-qualified, highly professional growers. The logo means that farms have been independently inspected to achieve high standards of food safety, hygiene and environmental protection,” she adds.
