Why don't they tell us the E-coli source so we can avoid it?

[INeedNewShoes]

We're being warned about this current strain of E-coli. It sounds as though they've learned enough about the source to have an idea what it is. Why not tell the public so we can reduce our chance of getting it?

Of particular concern for the elderly, young children and anyone immunocompromised.

You can warm up quiche

Prof Hugh Pennington is very well respected in regards food safety. He compiled a substantial report following an E.Coli 0157 outbreak in Lanarkshire and following his recommendations, butchers licensing was famously introduced, (as the source was a local butcher shop who had no control over cross contamination in any of his processes and sold contaminated ready to eat pies and cooked meats), until the 2006 EU regs came into force which enforced documented safety systems throughout food businesses.
However, he knows as much as any of us about this outbreak. He’s retired and has no intel on it so shouldn’t be commenting in the media. I do concur with him that it will be ready to eat, but if it’s poor scare tactics to say that it’s a dairy product. (I think he actually says that it could be, not that it definitely is). This is because of the Argentinian data that I posted upthread, but I very much hope that food safety standards have not fallen to a level so low in this country for this outbreak to be from a dairy product that is nationally distributed. These huge manufacturers are audited on almost a daily basis by inspectors from supermarkets etc. So I just can’t comprehend it, knowing this and how they operate at ground level. This is guesswork and not news.

It’s ready to eat, not ready to cook.

Ah that would explain younger people. Some sort of grab and go product.

Quiche is made from egg

Frozen pizza

Yogurt or rice pudding, cream , custard ?

Smoothie as well.

It has cheese in it. Cheddar and Onion quiche?

If they’re struggling to identify it does that suggest it’s a product that goes into multiple other products ? Eg specific cheese that is used in quiche etc

This is why, the media do not help during outbreaks……it’s disappointing that Prof Pennington has even commented. But he’s a microbiologist and doesn’t know what it’s like to deal with public panic.

And milk.

Not sure how quiche would be contaminated post cook with soil or bovine bacteria but hey, I suppose none of us know the answer.

It’s mostly egg though so would it be described as ready to eat dairy ? I would have thought not but I may be wrong I just think egg when I think of quiche!

If it was something like a quiche it would have been relatively easy to pinpoint. It feels like this is something which may have entered into the supply chain elsewhere, thus making it harder to pick up… eg a supplier which provides a specific ingredient to a number of retailers, which may then be used in a number of products across a range.

That said, it can’t be THAT popular as although the numbers are high for ecoli… they’re not actually all that high overall??

It's not Longley Farm is it?
Just picked up a pot from Home Bargains...
Was just raving about it on another thread!

Yes I want to try it but can’t find it! Glad it’s not disappeared anyway!

It’ll be a brand of cheese, or a brand of yoghurt. Or a supplier that issues to multiple supermarkets. I think

I have a feeling it's from prepacked sandwiches

DH used to always say they were dodgy when i used to eat them. I havent had one for ten years

No cottage cheese is available today. Absolutely none 😳 (where I was shopping!)

I eat low fat cottage cheese by the pot. Plenty in Waitrose on Sunday. I’m not ill either 😆

I had some on Monday and I'm fine atm

I’ve seen a few other people say this

I’ve got some Waitrose cottage cheese in my fridge in the absence of the bettter brand. I will eat soon and report back.

Fine after my 2 avocados 🥑