Beansprouts suspected as source of E coli

GERMAN agricultural authorities yesterday identified locally-grown beansprouts as the likely cause of an E coli outbreak that has killed 22 people and sickened over 2,200 others in Europe.

The agriculture ministry of the state of Lower Saxony in the north west of Germany sent an alert yesterday warning people to stop eating the sprouts, which are often used in mixed salads, ministry spokesman Gert Hahne said.

“Bean sprouts have been identified as the product that likely caused the outbreak,” Hahne said. “Many restaurants that suffered from an E coli outbreak had those sprouts delivered.”