Let's Be Straight About the Cucumbers

The initial suggestion that a dangerous E. coli outbreak, largely in Germany, was linked to imported Spanish cucumbers now seems more contentious (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jun/01/ecoli-outbreak-more-sick-germany?INTCMP=SRCH). Certainly, even fruit and salads can be contaminated by animal waste (from organic fertilisers or even from transport) but the strain of bacterium identified on some cucumbers is not the same as that that has killed people. The suggestion has, however, had devastating effects on some food producers so one does have to be a bit careful about demonising certain foods (although I don't like cucumber).