A few years ago I attended food safety conferences in London and then in Cardiff, Wales and gave a history lesson on E. coli Outbreaks in the United States. This weekend Cardiff, Wales health officials urged the public to remain vigilant as the number of E. coli O157:H7 cases rose to a possible nine, with three needing hospital treatment linked to Adonis Kebab House on City Road in Cardiff. Since the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak emerged on Friday, the number of confirmed cases has risen from five to seven – with another two under investigation – but could rise further, warned Dr. Gwen Lowe, consultant in communicable disease control at Public Health Wales (PHW).

Further North, as part of a routine food safety sampling program run by South Ayrshire Council Environmental Health, Scotland samples of potted meat taken from J Martin, 36 Main Road, Whitletts, Ayr and A Pickens and Sons, 27-29 Alloway Street, Ayr have been identified as containing E. coli O157”H7. There is no evidence linking the two failed samples. As a precaution, officials continue to advise the public not to eat any potted meat purchased from:

▪ J. Martin since Monday 8th August 2011 and,

▪ Pickens and Sons Alloway Street, Ayr or Main Street, Ayr since 8th July 2011

“Potted Meat” – hmm, doesn’t look that tasty – with or without E. coli.