Foreword

Statement from the Chair of the Independent Investigation

The Godstone Farm Escherichia coli O157 outbreak in August/September 2009 was a failure of health protection and exposed a complex regulatory framework. Some 93 cases, the vast majority of whom were children, were affected by this devastating disease causing great pain, the requirement for intensive invasive medical support and immense family disruption. Of the 93 cases, 17 (all of whom were children), suffered the most severe complication of this infection, namely haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), requiring intensive hospital renal and haematological support. Fortunately none of these children died, but they all suffered very severe disease.

The purpose of this Report is to analyse the handling of the outbreak and the regulatory framework surrounding prevention and response. The Investigation Committee is committed to the belief that the Report should be analysed carefully by the relevant bodies with a view to reducing risk to a minimal acceptable level and providing a structure which will reduce the risk of future outbreaks. The Open Farm industry needs help to restructure its operations and eventually assume more of a self-regulatory role alongside a strengthened regulatory scheme which will provide a basis for public confidenc. The Committee is pleased that as a result of this investigation, the National Farm Attractions Network has already made progress towards developing an accreditation scheme for Open Farms. We urge all interested parties to give this initiative their full support in tandem with the strengthening of the regulatory system we have also recommended.

The Committee is fully aware that implementation of the recommendations in this Report will need co-operation and clear thought between relevant Agencies to enable this to happen, and strongly advocates such an approach to safeguard public health.

Professor George Griffin
Chair of the E. coli O157 Independent Investigation
June 2010

Further content

  • The Purpose of the Independent Investigation
  • Terms of Reference for the Investigation
  • The Investigation Team
  • The Conduct of the Investigation
  • Contributors to the Investigation
  • The Independent Investigation Website

Foreword (PDF 787KB)

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