It isn't the food that's harming people - it's the WAY ITS BEING PRODUCED and DISTRIBUTED.

Let's start examining that and holding those methods (and the people that employ them) under the microscope - we have a responsibility and so do they!

The farm at the centre of the outbreak was shut down a week ago and its produce recalled. Health inspectors closed in on the grower after studying the menus and ingredients at eateries, in some cases going through bills and taking pictures of the meals to show to patients who fell ill with the infection.

Andreas Hensel, the head of Germany's risk assessment agency, said: "Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers should be eaten again – it is all healthy produce."

Organic farms fell under suspicion in the investigation because they do not use chemical fertilisers and put crops at greater risk of contamination from bacteria in manure. The cost to European farming could reach €500m.