E. coli outbreak raises questions among readers

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Blame game begins over German E. coli outbreak

The Hamburg senator who wrongly accused Spain of being the source of the E. coli outbreak should apologize publicly and more convincingly. The European Commission's reaction to the Spanish complaints has been biased and Germany has no excuse not to compensate the Spanish farmers for the damage done. Otherwise we will start to think that the EU is a cartel organization designed to favor only France's and Germany's interests. -- José, Spain

Of course we are concerned, that is why I try to grow my own food. We also try to buy our bison beef from a very humane farmer now and we avoid eating out - especially the "All you can eat" buffet restaurants. -- Glen, US

It is a mad, mad world, my masters! Health authorities find a link between eating cucumbers and a deadly E. coli infection. Unless the bacterium has learnt to bore its way in to the flesh of the cucumber, all that you need to do is to carefully sterilize the skin of the cucumber, with say, Potassium permanganate solution, as backpackers in the tropics from yesteryear will tell you. Then, for added precaution, remove and discard the skin. Then enjoy your cucumber. Yes, someone has blundered. But where has all the common sense gone? If there is no [potassium permanganate], there is surely a modern substitute? Why, oh why does not DW put this question to the food safety gurus? Yours in despair Dr JK Anand, UK

From Facebook

Still not eating raw vegetables...but eating strawberries every day. And I don't think that "Germany" has to pay "Spain" damages. The consumer has free choice to buy and eat whatever he wants. -- Patrick

I'm sorry to hear of this issue with imported cucumbers in Germany. My question is, why in Spain (where the export originates) is nobody ill, whereas all the victims reside in Germany (the main export destination)? -- Eugene

Compiled by Stuart Tiffen
Editor: Martin Kuebler