The UK salad trade is “in the doldrums” with prices hitting rock bottom as the effects of the E. coli outbreak in Germany continue to unfold.
Dutch vine tomatoes are priced at 100p for 5kg while cucumbers of the same origins made 150-200p for 12s and 14s on New Spitalfields wholesale market.
Salad products are also piling up at the retailers where new season UK cucumbers are discounted at Tesco - two for £1 - and Sainsbury’s, which is selling the product 80p each or two for £1.50.
The European salad industry is under widespread pressure as sales drop and orders are cancelled.
The German agriculture ministry last night identified German beansprouts as the likely source of the E. coli outbreak which has so far killed 22 people and affected a further 2,153 people.
The farm in northern Germany producing beansprouts is located south in the greater Uelzen area between Hamburg and Hanover.
The total number of cases in the UK is eleven. Three have developed the potentially deadly complication of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. All are thought to have picked up the infection in Germany.
The owners of the farm itself, Gärtnerhof Bienenbüttel in the district of ülzen, said they were "shocked and concerned" by the news that some of their products had apparently been contaminated with the E.coli bacteria involved in the outbreak.
With test results expected to confirm the presence of E.coli bacteria in products from Gärtnerhof Bienenbüttel today Lower Saxony's agriculture minister Gert Lindemann said it would be wise to avoid eating any kind of beansprout until further notice.
Spitalfields Market Tenants’ Association chairman Chris Hutchinson blasted the media’s response to the issue, which has been dogged by differing information coming from various organisations and authorities.
He said: “Lots and lots of people have made public statements without knowing the facts. People who have no idea what they are talking about have jumped on the bandwagon without the facts and figures and been quoted in the national press.”
Hutchinson said he suspected there will be now be “hysteria” around beansprouts and said “the governments do not have enough money to compensate the industry for what has happened”.
He added that last week was “the worst week possible” with salads sales low on the market while another trader at Spitalfields said “the salad market is in the doldrums, it has hit rock bottom”. Both predicted an upturn in sales this week although poor weather is likely to hit sales further.
Spanish officials are planning to sue the German authorities after its cucumbers were blamed for carrying the bacteria.
No comments yet