E coli scare - Vulnerable on imports?

WE’VE had more food scares than you could wave a turkey nugget and smoked soft cream cheese baguette at. Some have been based on the changing tastes of fashion, others demand our attention in a more powerful, threatening way.

The deaths — nearly 20 at the last count — across Europe from an unknown strain of E coli bacteria has been described as “massive and dangerous” by the World Health Organisation so we would be foolish not to consider it seriously. Already at least 1,600 people in nine countries have become sick because of the outbreak.

Early suggestions that cucumber was the source of the bacteria have been discounted but as we are so dependent on food imports we should sit up and take notice.