Russia has suspended all imports of fresh vegetables from the EU following the deadly E. coli outbreak in parts of Europe.

On Monday (30 May), amid initial claims from Germany that the outbreak was due to imports of Spanish cucumbers into the country, Russia banned the import and sale of Spanish and German vegetables.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Tests have since confirmed that the Spanish cucumbers were carrying a different strain to the one that has been responsible for the illnesses.

However, Russia’s consumer safety service said today that, with the source of the outbreak still undetermined, it would prevent the entry and sale of fresh vegetables from all EU member states.

The outbreak, which began in Germany, has led to as many as 16 deaths. According to the World Health Organisation, some 1,614 people have been reported as falling ill.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact