Fruit and veg habits revealed amid E. coli fears

Nearly half of UK consumers always wash loose fruit before eating it, as a number of people appear to harbour fears over soil quality across Europe.

In light of the recent outbreak of E. coli, a new YouGov poll has discovered that more than a third also scrub packaged produce before eating it.

It seems the older generation takes the threat more seriously, as 79 per cent admitted they wash loose fruit and vegetables, while this figure stood at just 44 per cent among people aged between 18 and 24.

The recent spread of E. coli has been linked to fresh produce deriving from Germany, after Spanish cucumbers were initially handed the blame incorrectly.

Samples from the bean sprout farm in northern Germany are being tested and millions of pounds worth of compensation is being offered to agricultural workers who have been affected by the outbreak.

The disease killed 14 people in Germany and an investigation was launched into Spanish soil and water quality before it was discovered that the nation was not the root cause of the deadly infection.

Posted by Joseph Hutton