German health authorities have confirmed that an E. coli outbreak linked to some raw vegetables has killed least three people and sickened more than 300 in the country.
The first investigation results released by the German federal institution responsible for disease control and prevention -- the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), under Germany's Ministry of Health -- indicated that the most recent infections were most likely caused by consuming raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.
The agency said it is advising consumers to avoid eating those foods specifically in northern Germany.
The European Food Safety Alert Network said Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, a strain of E. coli that causes hemorrhage in the intestines, was found in organic cucumbers originating from Spain, packaged in Germany, and distributed to countries including Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg and Spain.
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition said in a statement that two Spanish companies producing cucumbers may be involved in the outbreak of E. coli infections, and the agency is waiting for further results from Germany's investigation.
A press conference is scheduled to be held at the RKI headquarters in Berlin Monday.
Cases of bloody diarrhea associated with so-called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) were first reported in Germany in the second week of May. The detection of E. coli on cucumbers was first reported on May 26.
Germany's Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer.advised consumers to cook their food to a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Celsius for at least two minutes to kill E. coli bacteria. The deep-freezing of food does not kill bacteria reliably, the ministry added.
The first investigation results released by the German federal institution responsible for disease control and prevention -- the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), under Germany's Ministry of Health -- indicated that the most recent infections were most likely caused by consuming raw tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce.
The agency said it is advising consumers to avoid eating those foods specifically in northern Germany.
The European Food Safety Alert Network said Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, a strain of E. coli that causes hemorrhage in the intestines, was found in organic cucumbers originating from Spain, packaged in Germany, and distributed to countries including Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg and Spain.
The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition said in a statement that two Spanish companies producing cucumbers may be involved in the outbreak of E. coli infections, and the agency is waiting for further results from Germany's investigation.
A press conference is scheduled to be held at the RKI headquarters in Berlin Monday.
Germany's Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer.advised consumers to cook their food to a minimum temperature of 70 degrees Celsius for at least two minutes to kill E. coli bacteria. The deep-freezing of food does not kill bacteria reliably, the ministry added.
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