Post date: May 30, 2011 7:42:25 PM
Spanish cucumbers are being blame for an E.coli outbreak that killed 10 people in Germany and sickened hundreds. Deborah Gembara reports.
FORTA - These cucumbers are going into the trash.
There are dumpsters filled with them at this plant in southern Spain --- and they're being blamed for an E.coli outbreak that killed 10 people in Germany and sickened 300.
Germany has removed Spanish produce from supermarket shelves and orders from producers have been canceled, forcing many growers to dispose of their crops.
In Spain -- some officials think the rush to blame their cucumbers is premature .
Clara Aguilera is the councilor for Agriculture and Fisheries.
CLARA AGUILERA, COUNCILOR FOR AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OF ANDALUCIA, SAYING:"I don't know why it's more attractive for everyone to be against Spain, against Andalucia and against Almeria, I don't know why. I hope it has nothing to do with commercial interests, as you say, I hope it has nothing to do with it. I hope it has just been done in haste and it goes no further, the damage done though is quite irreversible."
So far, there are no reports of anyone becoming sick in Spain.
Deborah Gembara, Reuters.