E.coli outbreak: EU representatives trade accusations in Strasbourg, Luxembourg

A European Union proposal to offer 150 million euros in compensation to farmers affected by an E.coli outbreak is insufficient and producers should be fully compensated, Spain’s farm minister said on Tuesday in Luxembourg. Spanish fruit and vegetable producers have been hardest hit by the collapse in sales during the crisis, after German officials initially blamed cucumbers from Spain for causing the outbreak that has so far killed 22 people. The outbreak of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) disease in Germany and other Member States, was debated with the Commission on Tuesday. EU Health Commissioner John Dalli confirmed after Monday’s meeting that the European rapid alert system for food scares — controversially triggered by Germany last week in relation to Spanish cucumbers — will be reviewed following the crisis. Dalli said that the E.coli, which has killed 22 Europeans, was affecting 11 member states with 1600 recorded cases, 700 of which were recording serious health complications. He confirmed that the German health minister had relayed partial results from the beansprout farm which tested negative for the E.coli. Final confirmation that the northern German organic farm was not the origin of the bacterium is still anticipated. The commissioner said that the effectiveness of the rapid alert system had been discussed by ministers. The Spanish health minister called for the system to be changed following Germany’s use of it last week in relation to Spanish cucumber …