The trade has said “lessons have been learnt” from the E. coli outbreak in Germany and France this summer.
Fears were rife that last week’s news of an E. coli outbreak in the UK - which may have been related to soil on potatoes and leaks - could see the bottom fall out of the market, as happened with the salad sector this summer.
But a combination of more responsible reporting from the national press - believed to be a result of the fact the outbreak is not ongoing - and strong messages from industry, is thought to have dampened consumer fears.
The NFU moved immediately to quieten any alarm. Horticulture adviser Chris Hartfield said: “We take the health and safety of consumers, as well as the issues surrounding E. coli, extremely seriously. There is absolutely no reason for people to be concerned about eating vegetables. When stored, prepared and cooked correctly, the HPA makes it very clear that eating vegetables remains perfectly safe.”
Hartfield stressed that growers, via the NFU and levy bodies, were consulted over the last three months.
Martin Evans, chairman of the British Carrot Growers’ Association, said there could well be increased guidance for growers and suppliers in the wake of the incident but warned that “over sterilising” could allow E. coli to “fill the gaps” where other bacteria had been.
Caroline Evans, head of marketing and corporate affairs for the Potato Council, said: “We are working to ensure there’s a very reassuring message that potatoes and leeks are healthy to eat out there.”
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