Leaves from salad blamed as two killed by E.coli

TWO people have now died after becoming infected with E.coli that may be linked to eating mixed salad leaves.

Public Health England (PHE) is investigating an outbreak of E.coli O157, which has so far affected 151 people, mainly in the South West.

There have been 144 cases in England, six in Wales and one in Scotland. PHE did not say where the two people died.

It is looking into whether salad leaves – possibly including rocket imported from the Mediterranean – may be to blame.

PHE said it had advised “a small number of wholesalers” to stop adding some imported rocket leaves to their mixed salad bags as a precautionary measure.

Dr Isabel Oliver, director of PHE’s field epidemiology service, said: “PHE has identified that several of the affected individuals ate mixed salad leaves including rocket leaves prior to becoming unwell.

“The source of the outbreak remains under investigation; we are not ruling out other food items as a potential source.

“PHE is using various approaches including whole genome sequencing (WGS) technologies to test samples from those affected. WGS testing has indicated that the strain involved is likely to be an imported strain, possibly from the Mediterranean area.

“PHE is also working with the Food Standards Agency to trace, sample and test salad products grown in the UK and other parts of Europe.”

E.coli O157 can cause a range of symptoms, including mild to bloody diarrhoea and severe abdominal pain, and can be passed on to others through poor hand washing and poor toilet hygiene.