So it's definitely the beansprouts, according to Reinhard Burger, the head of the German centre for disease control (Reuters 10/06/2011). A rummage in a bin found the smoking gun (some discarded packaging) and after "flawless" tests the organic farm in Bienenbuettel in northern Germany has been identified as the most likely source of the outbreak which has killed 31 people and left thousands of others sick, some with a severe complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) which affects the blood, kidneys and nervous system.
The original source of the contamination is thought to be manure, farm slurry or faeces of some sort, since the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) found in this outbreak are known to be able to live in the stomachs of cattle. This has raised serious concerns for the organic industry about its growing methods.
Authorities said it was now safe to eat tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy salads (food originally suspected as the source), but bean sprouts should be avoided while studies continued. Meanwhile compensation has been increased for European farmers affected by the damage to their trade.
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