Investigations widen in E.coli outbreak

- Published: 16 August, 2007

Investigations into the Scottish E.coli outbreak are expanding after it was reported that cold cooked meat from two Morrisons stores, suspected as the cause, might also have been used in pre-packed sandwiches and customer cafes.

In a statement, the NHS unit for Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that some of the cooked cold meats from the deli counters in the Lonend and Falside Road stores were supplied to the customer cafes and staff canteens in both stores.

It added that the Lonend store's deli also supplied ham for a limited number of pre-packaged sandwiches sold in that store.

The Outbreak Control Team (OCT) said no confirmed E.coli cases have yet been linked to the sandwiches or the cafes and canteens.

In a statement released yesterday evening, Morrison's said it's own technical and store teams had fully supported Environmental Health Officers from Renfrewshire Council in their investigations about a possible link to some of its sliced cold meats.

The outbreak has so far claimed the life of a 66-year-old woman, while her husband, 72, remains seriously ill in hospital.

Another woman aged 71 is unwell but stable in hospital, while a family of three and one other elderly woman, affected in two other reported cases, are recovering at home, it added.

A further 70-year-old woman from Paisley has been hospitalised and confirmed with E coli 0157 while on holiday in Ireland.