EFSA updates consumer advice on sprout consumption following the 2011 E. coli outbreak in Germany & France

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has today revised its consumer advice on the consumption of sprouts and sprouting seeds. Following the E. coli outbreak in France and Germany earlier this year, the European Commission has informed EFSA that the EU Member States have now completed tracing activities across the food chain. With the removal from the market in all Member States of the most likely source of the contaminated food - a specific lot of fenugreek seeds from Egypt - coupled with on-going importation restrictions, the Authority is no longer advising consumers “not to grow sprouts for their own consumption and also not to eat sprouts or sprouted seeds unless they have been cooked thoroughly”. EFSA recommends that consumers refer to national food safety agencies for any specific advice regarding sprout consumption.

Source: EFSA