World | E. coli Spain's Cucumbers Not E. Coli Culprit— So It May Sue Germany Meanwhile, number of sickest jumps to 470 By Kate Seamons Posted Jun 1, 2011 6:53 AM CDT Copied Cucumbers are seen after being discarded in a container outside of a greenhouse in Algarrobo, near Malaga, southern Spain, on Tuesday, May 31, 2011. (AP Photo/Sergio Torres) Europe's E. coli mess may get a whole lot messier. Spain says it may take legal action against the German authorities "who have questioned the quality of our products." As the export of Spanish produce screeched to a halt, officials there griped that German authorities were quick to finger Spain as the source—before the result of tests were known. And it looks like they griped with good reason: German officials yesterday revealed that while Spain's cucumbers did test positive for E. coli, they did not have any traces of the strain responsible for the outbreak, reports the AP. Meanwhile, Germany's national disease control center today said that 470 people are now suffering from the most serious form of E. coli, up from 373 yesterday. After performing hundreds of tests, this is what they know conclusively: "Most of the patients who have been sickened ate cucumbers, tomatoes, and leaf lettuce and primarily in northern Germany." The next step, continued the country's agriculture minister, is to "follow back the delivery path to see how the cucumbers or tomatoes or lettuce got here." Read These Next Trump may be targeting this city next due to a misleading news report. A pastor's dream factored in the discovery of hiker's remains. There's a vast supply of fresh water under the ocean. Pilot who tried to cut engines won't be going to state prison. Report an error