Germany to pay compensation for 2011 EHEC crisis

A long-standing lawsuit between two Spanish fresh produce companies and the Hamburg authorities has come to an end. The companies were mentioned by name to be the cause of the 2011 EHEC crisis by the authorities. Unjustifiably, it later turned out. It has not been made public how much money the German authorties have to pay the Spanish companies.

It is indelibly stamped on the memory of everyone who had even the tiniest bit to do with horticulture: the moment cucumbers were blamed for the 2011 European E-colli outbreak. The German health service issued warnings for the product of two Spanish companies. Unjustified, it later turned out, but the damage had already been done. In the summer of 2011, approximately 56 million kilograms of vegetables were refused and products such as cucumber, bell pepper and tomato were left unharvested on about 500 hectares. Two Spanish companies have now received compensation from the government of Hamburg for the damage that they sustained.

That is because the Hamburg health service mentioned these two companies by name as the source fo the outbreak. The companies pressed charges against the Hamburg authorities and sued for compensation worth 2.28 million euro — the damages that the EHEC crisis brough them. While they did not get that amount, the judge did decide that the government of Hamburg has to compensate part of the damages: the difference between general EHEC damages, which affected the entire horticulutre sector, and the damage caused because these companies were mentioned by name. Exactly how much has not been made public. According to German sources, the amount would have six figures.

Trader Richard Soepenberg from Frunet Bio also does not talk about the amount. The Spanish trade company is one of the two companies that was mentioned by name. For weeks, there was no trade, and customers hardly returned, even when it became clear the company had nothing to do with the EHEC outbreak.