Errington Cheese: No charges over girl's E.coli death

No criminal proceedings are to be brought against a cheese manufacturer over an E.coli outbreak in which a three-year-old girl died.

The Crown Office said South Lanarkshire-based Errington Cheese would not face prosecution over the child's death in September 2016.

The decision comes after the firm's Dunsyre Blue was named the most likely source of the outbreak.

Prosecutors said a Fatal Accident Inquiry was still being considered.

The company's owner, Humphrey Errington, said it would be inappropriate to comment at this stage.

A total of 26 cases of the same strain of E. coli O157 were identified between July and September 2016 as a result of the outbreak, which left 17 people requiring hospital treatment.

Repeatedly questioned

A report published by Health Protection Scotland concluded in March this year that the source of the infection was consumption of an unpasteurised cows' milk cheese.

Their incident management team found that potentially pathogenic E. coli were able to enter and survive the cheese production process at the food business.

However, Errington Cheese has repeatedly questioned the quality of the investigation and any suggestion that their product was responsible.

The company won a court ruling in January against South Lanarkshire Council, which had imposed a ban on the sale of some of the firm's cheeses produced from ewes' milk.

Errington Cheese, which is based at Carnwath, produces artisan cheeses

A spokeswoman for the Crown Office said: "On 2 September 2016 a three year-old Dunbartonshire girl died as a complication of an E. Coli infection.

"After giving the case careful consideration, Crown Counsel have concluded, based on the available evidence, that there will be no criminal proceedings brought as a result of the death.

"Should additional evidence come to light that decision may be reconsidered.

"The family have been informed of this decision.

"A decision on whether or not to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry is currently under careful consideration."