Scottish venison products linked to E. coli outbreak

By Alice Foster

- Last updated on GMT

Highland Game's venison sausages, meatballs and steaks have been link to an E. coli outbreak
Highland Game's venison sausages, meatballs and steaks have been link to an E. coli outbreak

Related tags Meat

An E. coli outbreak has been linked to venison sausages, steaks and meatballs produced by Scottish firm Highland Game.

An investigation by Health Protection Scotland established the link between the raw venison products and the outbreak which affected nine people.

Highland Game, based in Dundee, has taken “immediate precautionary action”,​ according to a consumer warning from Food Standards Scotland (FSS).

‘No longer on sale’

A FSS statement said: As these use by dates have passed, products will no longer be on sale, but consumers may have products in their freezers at home.

“These products should not present a risk to health if they are handled and cooked properly.”

View from Scottish Venison Partnership

“We believe this is an isolated, rogue incident in an industry that has an exemplary record in terms of food safety.” 

  • Stephen Gibbs, chairman at Scottish Venison Partnership  

The affected venison grillsteaks, steaks with pepper sauce and Scottish Slimmers sausages and meatballs had use by dates ranging from September 4 to October 1. 

Scottish Venison Partnership chairman Stephen Gibbs stressed that the link between venison and the E. coli remains “unproven”​ at present. 

‘Working with authorities’ 

“Highland Game and the Scottish Venison Partnership are working with the authorities in order to establish how and where this possible contamination could have taken place,” ​Gibbs said.
“We believe this is an isolated, rogue incident in an industry that has an exemplary record in terms of food safety.” 

He urged consumers to maintain good food hygiene and to follow storage and cooking instructions, noting: “Consumers should have every confidence in continuing to eat venison.” 

Highland Game said in a statement that the source of the E. coli poisoning remains under investigation by the FSS.

“The FSS have undertaken a full inspection of our Dundee premises and our record of safety standards and we will continue to provide them with every assistance,” ​the firm said.

“This is a very rare incident and venison has an excellent track record of safety and standards and there is no substantiated evidence to support the actual source of the outbreak.

“Our stringent hygiene controls are second to none, however, as with all meats there can be a risk of contamination somewhere in the food chain.”  

Patients with E. coli suffer diarrhoea, stomach cramps and occasionally fever. Last year an outbreak in Glasgow was linked to burgers​ eaten at an arena.

Affected raw venison products

Use by date of September 4 to September 28 2015:

  • Scottish Slimmers venison sausages
  • Scottish Slimmers venison meatballs
  • Grillsteaks 

Use by date of September 4 to October 1 2015​:

  • Venison steaks with pepper sauce

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