The E.coli - infected cucumbers scandal, that has been analysed by the international and local media since the begining of June, has also affected Romanian producers, primarily by reducing local consumption and by decreasing demand for exports.

The Romanian Ministry of Agriculture has asked for compensation solutions for Romanian cucumber producers from the European Commission. The Romanian producers' losses from a drop of exports to the Czech Republic and Germany and from lower internal sales are estimated to reach EUR 9 million over the next two months. Due to blocked exports to the Czech Republic and Germany, Romania is losing EUR 100,000 daily. This is the equivalent of 160 tonnes of cucumber exported daily in the two countries.

Local cucumber sales have decreased by 70 percent in the last period and the demand from stores are also steadily decreasing. Romanian producers have assured consumers the locally - grown cucumbers are safe to consume, but the E.coli scare has prevented buyers from adding this vegetable on their shopping list.

This situation began after the German authorities announced an epidemic of gastroenteritis caused by cucumbers contaminated with the E.coli bacteria at the end of May. The German authorities have initially said that the origin of contamination was in Spain, but the European Commission announced that it canceled the warning launched against bio Spanish cucumbers. According to most recent data, German beansprouts may have caused the E.coli contamination.

Twelve countries have announced further cases of E. coli bacteria contamination. The death toll reached 21, while 2,000 more people are infected with E.coli across Europe.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com