Doctor Monica Price says a food that “isn’t always associated” with food poisoning bacteria is a huge contributor to the E.coli outbreak sweeping the British public.
More than 200 cases of the infection have been confirmed across the UK and the source is believed to have been found.
Last week, major food manufacturers issued product recall notices relating to a variety of sandwiches, wraps and salads.
Speaking on GB News, Dr Price said Britons are faced with a “huge problem” when it comes to ready made salads.
Dr Monica Price has issued a warning over a specific product
GETTY / GB NEWS
“It’s from contaminated water or food, so it’s the faeces”, she said.
“A lot of farmers often use manure in the land, and they’re meant to wait a year before they even plant anything to allow that soil to fertilise.
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UK-wide E. coli outbreak leaves dozens hospitalisedGetty Images “What’s clearly happening is something is going wrong, either in that side of the chain or it’s when you have your leafy, green vegetables, like salads.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in the salads and the sandwiches that have been taken off the shelves.
“The faeces is either getting in the water from the soil, or the water that they’re using is still contaminated by the faeces.
“Of course, this is going to be a huge problem because we’re eating more and more ready salads. Lots of us go to the supermarket and we’ll take a sandwich off the shelf.
Dr Monica Price joined Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster
GB NEWS
“That’s why so many have been recalled, because they’re just worried now that it’s actually in the salad.
“And who would have thought? People don’t associate food poisoning bacteria with salads.”
Greencore Group was the first company to issue a product recall on June 14, closely followed by Samworth Brothers Manton Wood. Food maker THIS! has since recalled its vegan chicken and bacon wrap.
E. coli are a diverse group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals. They are normally harmless, although some strains can make people very ill.
All the cases recorded in the outbreak involve Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O145 (Stec).