European vegetable farmers will have access to at least 150 million euros (220 million dollars) in compensation for losses suffered amid a deadly E coli outbreak, with the European Union promising Tuesday that more funds are on the way, dpa reported. "I have pledged to review this number ... and come back with an improved proposal, an improvement that will be substantial, balanced and justified," EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos said following a special meeting of agriculture ministers in Luxembourg. The E coli outbreak, which has killed at least 22 people - all but one in Germany - and made ill more than 2,700 others in 13 countries, was initially blamed on Spanish cucumbers until laboratory tests showed otherwise. German beansprouts then came under suspicion, but were officially ruled out too on Tuesday after a lab test showed that the pathogen was not present in a pack of wilted sprouts sold several weeks ago. Investigators can now only say that they believe some kind of raw vegetable is spreading the disease. German and World Health Organization officials call the pathogen enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). The EU uses the term Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC), referring to the toxin the bacteria spread into the human body. To farmers, it has meant tonnes of produce going to waste as progressively more consumers cut salad out of their diet. Spanish farmers particularly have complained bitterly about their treatment by German authorities and their ensuing financial losses, with farmers association in Spain saying their members are losing 200 million euros (280 million dollars) a week. Agriculture Minister Rosa Aguilar on Tuesday argued that farmers should be compensated for their lost products at a rate of 100 per cent of what they would have earned under normal circumstances. Ciolos' initial proposal called for 30 per cent. While arguing that the EU agricultural funds available will not allow for a 100-per-cent rate and warning against overcompensation, Ciolos also said he is willing to revise his number upward. He said he will also consider making more products eligible for compensation in addition to the cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce he had first earmarked the money for. Ciolos said he plans to have an amended compensation proposal ready as early as Wednesday. Decisions could then follow next week.
