2011 cucumber scare failed to dent organic sector
Remember the organic cucumber scare? First, Spanish organic cucumbers were blamed, then, as upwards of 3,000 people were infected, and over a dozen had passed away due to a new, virulent strain of E Coli, German organic beansprouts got the blame. A farm was detected with the strain in its produce, and has been shut down.
In the end it seems that Egyptian fenugreek seeds used to produce sprouts were the likely source. Their import into the EU is currently banned, though the Egyptians claim that it isn’t their fenugreek that caused the problem. That brings little consolation for organic farmers and growers; however, the lack of a dip in sales for organic produce during and after this scare was probably heartening for the sector. Consumers seem more stable these days, and less likely to flip-flop the purchases due to food scares.
