Statement from Food Standards Scotland regarding the recent E. coli O157 Outbreak

This outbreak has resulted in the sad death of a child. There can be no consolation at a time like this for a family in mourning. The family’s right to privacy has been respected throughout the investigation and FSS trusts that the media will continue to respect that privacy.

FSS has acted as part of a multi-agency team which has not been drawn into the public speculation and debate that the outbreak has generated. The IMT has focused on investigating the outbreak. The IMT’s priority throughout has been public safety, and all its decisions and actions were taken on that basis.

During the outbreak, two batches of Dunsyre Cheese were implicated based on epidemiological evidence, and were voluntarily recalled from sale by Errington Cheese Ltd on 28 July 2016. There have been 20 cases of illness resulting from this outbreak, 11 of which required hospitalisation, and of course, sadly, one fatality has occurred.

As of 5 September 2016, the IMT has declared this outbreak to be over and the IMT, in accordance with procedure, has now stood down. FSS, working with South Lanarkshire Council, is now continuing its food safety investigations.

FSS’s statutory duty is to protect public health. FSS fully recognise the importance of the food sector to Scotland’s economy. It is a flourishing sector and key to that is trust that what is being produced is safe and fit for human consumption. One of the key objectives of FSS, as set out in its recently published Strategy to 2021 – Shaping Scotland’s Food Future, is to enable responsible businesses to flourish. Proportionality is always a key part of FSS’s considerations - to ensure fairness to businesses and also to ensure that consumers are given information upon which they can choose to act.

FSS has, during the course of the investigation, issued one public recall information notice following Errington Cheese Ltd’s voluntary recall. This is a standard practice that happens on a regular basis, as can be seen from other product recalls publicised on FSS’s website.

It is the legal responsibility of food businesses to produce safe food. Food businesses are required to take all reasonable steps to ensure that all hazards and risks are identified in the production of their products and that the food they produce is safe. Those reasonable steps need to be taken before any product is placed on the market. The responsibility of all food business is to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent contamination and ensure the food they place on the market is safe to eat.

Pasteurisation significantly reduces harmful bacteria including STEC, and that is why FSS advice to vulnerable groups including pregnant women, children and the elderly remains that they should not consume raw, unpasteurised milk and dairy products such as cheese made from unpasteurised milk due to the increased risk of food poisoning. Raw milk is classed as a high risk food because it is not pasteurised.

The focus of effort for FSS and South Lanarkshire Council for the time being is on ensuring that all appropriate controls are in place to protect the safety of consumers. Actions will continue to be determined by what is necessary to protect public health and the interests of consumers.