MADINA: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SDFA) is considering banning the importation of food products from some European countries, particularly those which have witnessed deaths from the EHEC bacteria. A source at the SDFA said the authority is “closely monitoring the situation” and that it has been in contact with the relevant authorities in the countries involved to keep fully abreast of developments. The source said that the SDFA will assess all the information before taking any decision to ban the importation of products that could contain the EHEC bacteria. “Food and medicine safety standards in the Kingdom are strict,” the source said. “They are not to be taken lightly in any circumstances as safety is non-negotiable.” Any ban on such imports would immediately see the countries in question placed on the quarantine list until the official clearance is given and Saudi Customs would be instructed to inform all points of entry to halt the import of the relevant products. The Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry would also be informed so that traders and importers can be instructed to suspend all contracts involving prohibited products until further notice. The source of the EHEC bacterium outbreak in Europe is believed to have been cucumbers from Spain, a hypothesis denied by the authorities in Madrid Monday. As of early Tuesday, 14 deaths from EHEC had been reported in Germany along with hundreds of infections. Some cases of the bacterium have been reported elsewhere in Europe. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium commonly found in the lower intestines of humans and warm-blooded animals. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some, such as EHEC, can cause bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. EHEC can also cause hemolytic-uremic syndrome and sudden kidney failure. The bacterium is transmitted to humans primarily through consumption of water contaminated by feces, raw or undercooked food products, unpasteurized milk, and unwashed vegetables. Person-to-person contact is also made possible by poor hand hygiene.
