Estonian vegetables safe

TALLINN - Estonian vegetable importers claim that they have not imported cucumbers and other vegetables to Estonia from the regions in Spain where, according to suspicions, the contaminated cucumbers, salad and spinach that have killed several people in Germany come from, reports Ohtuleht. The biggest danger lies in organic products, of which very little is being imported to Estonia from Spain.

The coli bacteria that can in extreme cases cause death get to the vegetables with organic fertilizers, said veterinary and food board bureau manager Piret Rajasalu. “In any case, the bacteria can come from the bowels of sick animals.”
Rajasalu said that, according to current information, cucumbers imported from Almeria and Malaga have been sold only in Germany. She said that Estonian people who have visited Germany last month should observe themselves carefully and go to the doctor at once if they have any suspicions.

Estonian vegetable and fruit importer Bambona buying and sales manager Aimer Peensalu said that the company is not importing vegetables from the Almeria and Malaga regions in Spain that are under suspicion. They just received a batch of cucumbers from the Murcia region, but won’t start selling them before they get confirmation from laboratories about them being clean.

Wholesale firms Karlskroona, Rigual and Rimi representatives also confirmed that they are not importing cucumbers from these Spanish regions at the moment.