Bureaucrats in Brussels have tallied up the damage last year's E. coli O104:H4 outbreak did to the European fruit and vegetable business and threatened to use European Union law to make sure it does not happen again.
Yet, the newly released "Commission Staff Working Document" into "lessons learned" about the 2011 outbreak isn't like to shake up the EU. The recommendations seem more likely to generate yawns than controversy among EU members.
It probably does not help that the draft report mistakenly lists June 2012, not 2011, as the date of the Bordeaux part of the deadly fenugreek seed-caused O104:H4 outbreak.
The O104 outbreak was centered on Northern Germany, peaking around May 22, 2011, with the Bordeaux part of the outbreak following mostly in June 2011. Germany experienced the brunt of the outbreak with 3,842 infections, including 855 with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and 53 deaths.
Another 137 cases throughout Europe, including 54 HUS cases and 2 deaths were connect to the O104 outbreak. According to the "lessons learned" report, 31 of those cases--including 7 HUSE cases-- were in the Bordeaux region of France.
As they dissected what happened, the Commission staff seems mainly concerned about improving coordination and communication next time, something that seems to be a fairly common EU problem.
The European Commission wore several hats during the outbreak. Even while the food safety crisis continued, the EU mechanics were working to deal with financial losses to Euro fruit and vegetable growers and chart an economic recovery for the section.
The report says losses totaled 812.6 million euros, mostly to Spain, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands, Germany, Greece, France and Belgium. The Commission's 27 member counties declared damages of 226.2 million euros, and the EU reimbursed 178.2 million euros.
Most went to the same list of impacted counties for distribution to fruit and vegetable producers. Lost sales, low prices, and overcapacity led to the claimed damages.
"Arguably the biggest was on the image of fresh produce," says the report.
Egyptian-grown sprouts were the cause of 2011 outbreak and the commission staff made several recommendations for improving the safety of sprouts and other "food of non-animal origin." These included:
-Strengthening the EU's ability to protect citizens against cross border health threats.
-Increase hygiene awareness for foods of non-animal origin.
-Improve preparedness for all key players involved in outbreaks.
-Better coordination and closer communication.
-Improve market intervention and product promotions tools to limit negative economic impacts.
-Strengthen public-private initiatives for citizen/consumer awareness.
-Increase respect for all roles involved in an outbreak.
The report points out that the EU has general, hygiene, and preparedness and monitoring legislative authorities. While it provides examples of how that authority is used, it is not clear about that authority might be used in the future because of the O104 outbreak.
probably does not help that the draft report mistakenly lists June 2012, not 2011, as the date of the Bordeaux part of the deadly sprout-caused O104:H4 outbreak.
The O104 outbreak was centered on Northern Germany, peaking around May 22, 2011, with the Bordeaux part of the outbreak following mostly in June 2011. Germany experienced the brunt of the outbreak with 3,842 infections, including 855 with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and 53 deaths.
Another 137 cases throughout Europe, including 54 HUS cases and 2 deaths were connect to the O104 outbreak. According to the "lessons learned" report, 31 of those cases--including 7 HUSE cases-- were in the Bordeaux region of France.
As they dissected what happened, the Commission staff seems mainly concerned about improving coordination and communication next time, something that seems to be a fairly common EU problem.
The European Commission wore several hats during the outbreak. Even while the food safety crisis continued, the EU mechanics were working to deal with financial losses to Euro fruit and vegetable growers and chart an economic recovery for the section.
The report says losses totaled 812.6 million euros, mostly to Spain, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands, Germany, Greece, France and Belgium. The Commission's 27 member counties declared damages of 226.2 million euros, and the EU reimbursed 178.2 million euros.
Most went to the same list of impacted counties for distribution to fruit and vegetable producers. Lost sales, low prices, and overcapacity led to the claimed damages.
"Arguably the biggest was on the image of fresh produce," says the report.
Egyptian-grown sprouts were the cause of 2011 outbreak and the commission staff made several recommendations for improving the safety of sprouts and other "food of non-animal origin." These included:
-Strengthening the EU's ability to protect citizens against cross border health threats.
-Increase hygiene awareness for foods of non-animal origin.
-Improve preparedness for all key players involved in outbreaks.
-Better coordination and closer communication.
-Improve market intervention and product promotions tools to limit negative economic impacts.
-Strengthen public-private initiatives for citizen/consumer awareness.
-Increase respect for all roles involved in an outbreak.
The report points out that the EU has general, hygiene, and preparedness and monitoring legislative authorities. While it provides examples of how that authority is used, it is not clear about that authority might be used in the future because of the O104 outbreak.
