Cheese probe ‘a mess’
Scientist demands ‘whole story’ amid turmoil over E.coli bug that killed girl
THE investigation into an E.coli outbreak that killed a three-year-old girl was last night branded a ‘mess’ by a leading scientist.
Hugh Pennington, Emeritus Professor of Bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said the authorities are not revealing the ‘whole story’ and has urged them to be more transparent.
He was speaking as cheesemaker Humphrey Errington revealed that testing he commissioned on his Lanark White returned ‘completely negative’ for the deadly bug.
Over the weekend, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) forced Mr Humphrey’s firm to recall a batch of the cheese because it ‘may contain E.coli 0157 bacteria’.
Lanark White, made from unpasteurised ewes’ milk, was not linked to the recent E.coli scare, which affected 20 people and led to the death of the little girl.
Errington Cheese had previously voluntarily pulled batches of its award-winning Dunsyre Blue cheese after the authorities said that was ‘the most likely source’ of the outbreak. FSS later admitted its official testing had not found 0157 in the blue cheese.
Mr Errington, whose firm employs 13 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, said yesterday: ‘The results are all completely negative for 0157, or anything else for that matter, on the Lanark White.
‘We tested it with a conventional testing sample which we got on Saturday and that was clear. And we have had it tested in England with genetic testing and that is clear.
‘We’re absolutely confident there is nothing wrong with the cheese.’
On Saturday, FSS announced Batch G14 of Lanark White was being recalled. In a statement, it said: ‘A sample from a batch of Lanark White submitted for testing by South Lanarkshire Council has tested positive for E.coli 0157.
‘Although this organism may not carry toxins, it is associated with human disease in the UK, so this cheese is a potential risk to health.’
Mr Errington questioned the testing methodology used by FSS and claimed what it had found was ‘what is called a presumptive’.
Last night, Professor Pennington said: ‘What the FSS statement hinted at is that they have found the bug. If it is the presumptive test, they have not found the bug. That is my interpretation of it. Without further detail we are in the dark unfortunately. It’s a mess.
‘What they are putting out is only half the information we want, probably less than half. It’s certainly not the full information of what they have actually done and the results they have got.
‘By now, we should be seeing much more detail… and the basis on which they have taken the judgments they have.’
He added: ‘The information they are putting out is very hard to interpret.’
A FSS spokesman said: ‘As of 5 September, 2016, the Incident Management Team investigating the E.coli outbreak linked to certain batches of Dunsyre Blue cheese declared the outbreak to be over and, in accordance with procedure, has stood down.
‘The outbreak has resulted in the sad death of a child and Food Standards Scotland is working with the procurator fiscal and other agencies as part of the ongoing investigation into the cause of the outbreak.
‘Public health is, and will continue to be, FSS’s priority. As there is an ongoing food safety investigation, we will publish more information when this is necessary to protect public health and provide information to consumers.’