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| British seed firm 'linked to French E. coli outbreak' | British seed firm 'linked to French E. coli outbreak' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| UK officials are investigating reports of a possible link between a UK seed firm and an E. coli outbreak in France. | UK officials are investigating reports of a possible link between a UK seed firm and an E. coli outbreak in France. |
| News agency AFP said 10 people have been affected by E. coli in Bordeaux. | News agency AFP said 10 people have been affected by E. coli in Bordeaux. |
| It is thought a number of them had eaten rocket and mustard vegetable sprouts, believed to have been grown from seeds sold by Thompson and Morgan. | It is thought a number of them had eaten rocket and mustard vegetable sprouts, believed to have been grown from seeds sold by Thompson and Morgan. |
| The Ipswich-based company told the BBC it had no evidence of a link. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said no E. coli cases had been reported in the UK. | The Ipswich-based company told the BBC it had no evidence of a link. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said no E. coli cases had been reported in the UK. |
| In a brief statement, Thompson and Morgan said it sold "thousands of packets and have had no reported problems". | In a brief statement, Thompson and Morgan said it sold "thousands of packets and have had no reported problems". |
| "It is highly unlikely to be the seeds themselves but the way that they were used and handled," the statement said. | "It is highly unlikely to be the seeds themselves but the way that they were used and handled," the statement said. |
| Paul Hansord, the managing director of the company added: "We make sure that everything we do is to a high standard." | |
| Seven of those affected by the E. coli outbreak, who ate the sprouts at a country fair at Begres near Bordeaux, needed hospital treatment. | Seven of those affected by the E. coli outbreak, who ate the sprouts at a country fair at Begres near Bordeaux, needed hospital treatment. |
| Close contact | Close contact |
| The FSA says it is asking the company for more information about the seeds. | The FSA says it is asking the company for more information about the seeds. |
| There is no suggestion of a link to the German E. coli outbreak, which came from bean sprouts grown on an organic farm, but two people are said to be infected with a similar strain. | There is no suggestion of a link to the German E. coli outbreak, which came from bean sprouts grown on an organic farm, but two people are said to be infected with a similar strain. |
| Frederic Lefebvre, France's secretary of state for consumer affairs was quoted by AFP recommending "consumers who bought these same products not use them". | Frederic Lefebvre, France's secretary of state for consumer affairs was quoted by AFP recommending "consumers who bought these same products not use them". |
| Mr Lefebvre added: "The link between the symptoms and eating of the sprouts so far has not been definitively established." | Mr Lefebvre added: "The link between the symptoms and eating of the sprouts so far has not been definitively established." |
| An FSA spokesman told the BBC: "We have been in contact with the French authorities about this outbreak and are aware that a UK business has been named in connection with it. | An FSA spokesman told the BBC: "We have been in contact with the French authorities about this outbreak and are aware that a UK business has been named in connection with it. |
| "No cases of food poisoning have been reported in the UK linked with the outbreak in France but we are in close contact with the Health Protection Agency. | "No cases of food poisoning have been reported in the UK linked with the outbreak in France but we are in close contact with the Health Protection Agency. |
| "We have asked for further information from the French authorities with regard to the three named type of seeds to help us carry out investigations in the UK." | "We have asked for further information from the French authorities with regard to the three named type of seeds to help us carry out investigations in the UK." |