Stores 'warned over food hygiene'

Sliced cold meat has been taken off the shelves at both stores

Two supermarket stores linked to the fatal E.coli outbreak in Paisley had previously been warned over contravening food hygiene procedures.

Renfrewshire Council has confirmed that environmental health issues were raised about the Falside Road and Lonend branches of Morrisons.

They included meat pies on display for 12 hours at room temperature and raw eggs being stored on warm surfaces.

Morrisons said that inspection reports are always professionally acted upon.

The E.coli O157 outbreak, which emerged almost a week ago, has been linked to cooked meat from the deli counters at two branches of Morrisons in Paisley.

Renfrewshire Council's environmental health officers drew attention to more than 20 issues surrounding standards at the two branches over the past three years.

CONFIRMED CASES Woman, 66 - dead Man, 72 - serious but stable Woman, 71 - recovering Woman, 86 - recovering Family of three - recovering Woman, 70 - in hospital Woman, 81 - in hospital

An inspection of the Falside Road store in October 2005 resulted in seven contraventions of food safety regulations being noted, a council spokesman confirmed on Sunday.

A further 10 points were raised by inspectors in May this year.

The most recent report stated that there were some "poor food-handling procedures" which "must be addressed".

In addition, an inspection from August last year at the Lonend Store flagged up four contraventions of regulations, including the storage of raw eggs on a warm cooker surface, which could increase the potential for bacterial growth.

The latest report on the store, issued in March this year, noted two concerns including that a "variety of meat pies" were cooked and then displayed for sale for up to 12 hours.

Nine cases

On Sunday, a statement from Morrisons said: "The UK supermarket industry is among the best in the world with regards to food safety and hygiene.

"Morrisons ranks highly within the sector, having a good reputation for high standards, quality staff training and rigorous processes.

"We receive routine assessment of our food preparation areas, and actions arising from the inspection reports are promptly and professionally taken, as would be expected of one of the UK's leading retailers."

There are nine known E.coli O157 cases, the latest was confirmed on Friday as that of an 81-year-old woman from Paisley.

A 66-year-old woman died on Monday after contracting the illness.

Nine cases of E.coli have been confirmed

Her 72-year-old husband is serious but stable at Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary and a 70-year-old Paisley woman remains stable in hospital in the Republic of Ireland.

A 71-year-old woman being treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley has been discharged. An 86-year-old woman and a family of three are said to be recovering well at home.

The 81-year-old, who became the ninth case, is being cared for at the Royal Alexandra.

Sliced cold meats have been withdrawn from sale at the delicatessen counters of the Morrisons stores on Lonend and Falside Road, Paisley.

People are being advised not to eat any meats that had been purchased at the two stores' deli counters.

NHS Glasgow and Clyde's outbreak control team, which is monitoring the situation, said the on Sunday that the number of confirmed E.coli O157 cases related to the Paisley outbreak stood at nine.