No early warning as French infected beef still at large
French beef containing E Coli has been exported across the EU,
while half of the 43 tonnes of infected meat still circulates.
The batch of contaminated frozen beef, sold in South West France at E Leclerc supermarkets since October 9, has given at least 26 people severe gastrointestinal sickness - and meat from the same consignment went to Spain and Portugal.
The meat supplier Soviba said the contamination occurred at their Lion d'Angers factory in the north of France. The product - frozen minced beef patties - was sold and exported through October, sparking fears that the E Coli infected meat may be consumed overseas.
The first cases were identified between October 18-24 and the French authorities say they became aware of the issue on October 25. But the official recall of the contaminated hamburgers did not take place until October 31, when the French notified the European Commission and raised the alarm with the Spanish and Portuguese governments.
Officials are now concerned that more people will become sick from the infected meat sold under the Repere Chantegril brand name - highlighting the inefficiency of the French authorities and the European food safety warning system to pick up the issue.
"Under EU legislation governments have to notify the Commission through the rapid alert system of any cases of contamination or food safety if it could impact the other countries, so that products can be traced back," a European Commission spokesperson explained.
Information fed to the Commission should then be passed on to member states so product withdrawals may take place.
"In this case we have no information to suggest there has been any improper actions taken," he added.
But half of the infected meat products are still unaccounted for.
The Escherichia Coli virus found in the contaminated minced beef caused 13 children to contract the potentially fatal haemolytic uremic syndrome, and left another 13 adults and children suffering from acute gastro-enteritis. A 15-month old child remains in intensive care and a four-year old girl is receiving daily dialysis due to kidney failure.
Soviba, France's third largest meat supplier, declined to comment but is investigating the problem at its Lion d'Angers factory.
And E Leclerc head, Michel-Eduoard Leclerc, insisted the contamination occurred in the fabrication process, and is not related to the supermarket's logistics procedure.
The supermarket has now suspended orders from Soviba, pending further investigation.
