Foragers warned of E. coli risk from 'toxic' wild garlic

People are being urged not to forage wild garlic due to a "serious risk" of E. coli contamination.

Marlborough Town Council in Wiltshire has issued the urgent notice for areas near a tributary of the River Kennet, including St George's Preshute.

Nearby Coopers Meadow flooded with "a significant amount of human waste" after sewers overflowed on 5 January.

The Royal Horticulture Society said it should be safe to eat crops the following year after flooding.

"After flooding, edible crops near to harvest are best not eaten: no assurances can be given that root crops will be safe to eat, so they should be discarded.

"Plants eaten raw should be discarded too, and it is prudent to avoid growing salads and other uncooked crops for two years in case disease spores remain in the soil," a spokesperson from the charity added.

The Food Standards Agency also advised against eating any food which has been touched or covered by floodwater or sewage.

The warning includes produce grown in an allotment or a garden which was affected by the flooding.

A spokesperson said: "Wild garlic is not usually cooked and tends to be used as a garnish, so from a microbiological point of view, we would advise not to eat wild garlic that has been touched by floodwater or sewage."

Foragers have also been reminded to follow the law, and protect the environment.

A Marlborough Town Council spokesperson said frequent foraging in the area has caused a "large, unsightly, bare patch" to form.

"We all have a right to enjoy our open spaces," they added.

"With that comes a responsibility to abide by any signs or bylaws, as well as to leave the meadow as you find it for the enjoyment of the whole community and to protect our precious environment and biodiversity."

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