Information on incident "Escherichia coli" in Germany (May 2011)

Communications from the FASFC

Export to third countries

Diagnoses

Analyses results
Useful links

What do we understand under Escherichia coli?

About a thousand of different strains of Escherichia coli (E.coli) can be found on earth. Most of E. coli strains are found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms and are harmless. Some strains though, called VTEC strains, are able to produce toxins and present a particular health risk because they can cause serious illness, even with a very low contamination level.

Not all the E. coli strains cause a disease. In fact, most strains can benefit their hosts by producing vitamins and preventing the growth of other pathogenic bacteria. Since E.coli is commonly found in the intestine of humans and animals, it is used as an indicator of fecal contamination in the food industry. Routine tests do not allow to make a difference between strains: when a sample tests positive for E.coli, it could as well be a pathogenic strain as a non pathogenic strain.

What’s the effect of the bacteria?

After a 3 to 9 day incubation period, the bacteria can cause belly aches, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration symptoms. Symptomatology can last up to 2 weeks. In severe cases, the infection can cause renal insufficiency, cerebral hemorrhage and death.

What to do in case of suspicion of E. coli infection?

What can I eat ?

You can eat everything as long as it’s prepared correctly.

Are cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce and young sprouts more dangerous?

No, you can eat these raw or cooked, as long as you follow common hygiene directions and prepare them properly.

Are other raw vegetables dangerous?

No, as long as you follow common hygiene directions and prepare them properly.

What about meat?

You can eat all types of meat as long as you prepare the meat correctly.

A trip to Germany?

Circulaire & certificat temporaire exportation légumes frais (FR)
Declaration for fruits and vegetables exported to third countries (PDF)

Lifting of the special regime on the import of vegetable production from the EU into Russia (PDF) 09/08/2011

Note intended for the approved laboratories concerning the method for the detection and isolation of E. coli O104 in food (PDF)

Method for the detection and isolation of E. coli O104 (PDF)

Flowchart concerning the method for the detection and isolation of E. coli O104 in food (PDF)

Recommended Laboratories for the analysis of EHEC O104 NEW 29/08/2011 (PDF)

Recommended Laboratories for the analysis of STEC (PDF)

FAQ on the method for the detection and isolation of EHEC O104 (PDF)

Summary table of the analyses on vegetables in 2010 and programmation of analyses on vegetables in 2011 (PDF)

Analyses results on E-coli O104 (PDF)

Analyses results on E-coli O104 in the context of autocontrole NEW (PDF)

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