E. coli outbreak scientists 'confident' they have discovered source of contamination

Experts trying to track down the source of an outbreak of E. coli say they believe they know what food is behind it. More than 200 people were left ill with at least 67 in hospital after becoming infected with the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Now the Food Standards Agency has told The Sun its scientists are "confident" it is lettuce leaves which have led to the outbreak which has hit the whole of the UK. However they say it is too early to know how the salad item may have become affected by the bacteria.

The FSA has not said where the lettuce came from. They also have not said whether it was from the UK or had been imported.

Latest figures which were released on June 14 showed 211 people had been recorded as having the infection. Of these 147 were recorded in England while there were 27 in Wales, 35 in Scotland and two in Northern Ireland - but it is thought the last two picked up the infection while in England.

On Friday the Food Safety Agency began issuing a list of products which were being recalled, including from Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Boots, amid concerns they could be contaminated with E. coli. Amazon, One Stop, Co-op and WH Smith have also recalled sandwiches and wraps.

The FSA said while E. coli had not been detected in the products they were being recalled as a precaution. And it said people who ate an infected product were at risk of being potentially seriously ill.