Frequently Asked Questions concerning the use of fenugreek seeds in foods

Fenugreek seeds can be found in many different products, such as certain curry powder spice blends, cheese and mustard varieties, breastfeeding teas and food supplements. Furthermore, the seeds are used for the seasoning of baked goods. There are no indications so far to suggest that apart from sprouts also other foods made from fenugreek seeds have caused EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli diseases.

The fact that some cheeses contain fenugreek seeds can frequently be seen from the designation on the package or, in the event of bulk goods, at the cheese counter on a price tag next to the product. The small brown seeds can also be identified in the cheese mass. For spice blends, mustard, teas and food supplements it can also be assumed that the addition of fenugreek can be deduced from the information on the pack, in particular from the list of ingredients. In some foods no full fenugreek seeds are processed but seed powders or seed extracts.

Fenugreek seeds are traded all over the world and come to Germany from several countries. In 2010, for instance, the seeds were primarily imported from India. Consumers cannot see as a rule where the seeds originally come from.

It is known from experimental investigations that some EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains can penetrate the inside of plants through the roots. In the case of alfalfa the presence of bacteria inside the plants has already been shown. For fenugreek seeds this is so far not yet known.

There is no risk of infection if the seeds are thoroughly heated prior to consumption, e.g. by cooking or roasting.

Fenugreek seeds are contained in some semi-hard cheeses as an ingredient to give them a nutty flavour. Fenugreek seeds actually have a bitter taste und are, therefore, usually heated before they are added to the cheese mass. If 72 °Cshort fordegrees Celsius or more are not reached in the seed core for at least two minutes performing heat treatment with water or steam, there can be a risk of infection according to BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. Dry heat treatment at about 70°C has to be performed for several hours to achieve an equal effect in reduction of the pathogen.

Tea bags with fenugreek seeds should be infused like any other herb tea with boiling hot water and brewed for at least five minutes.

BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment believes that hot water dispensers are, as a matter of principle, not suited for the preparation of herb teas. Further information is included in the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Opinion which can be downloaded (in german) under http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/temperierte_heisswasserspender_fuer_ kraeuterteeaufguesse_nicht_geeignet.pdf

Fenugreek seeds do not have to be thrown away if they are thoroughly heated prior to consumption, e.g. by roasting in a pan or by cooking. In order to kill EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria and most of the other possible pathogens in moisture foods, temperatures of 72 °Cshort fordegrees Celsius or more should also be reached inside the foods for at least two minutes. If seeds are to be heated under dry conditions, much higher temperatures (as reached e.g. by roasting in a pan) or heating for several hours are needed to kill EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria on seeds.

Fenugreek seeds are used in a ground condition for the production of spice blends, mainly curry powder. Fenugreek seeds are a standard ingredient in particular in Indian curry spice blends. During the industrial production of spices thermal processes such as hot water steam treatment are usually used for germ reduction, which are also effective against EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria.

Home-made spice blends of fenugreek seeds are safe if the seeds have previously been thoroughly heated e.g. by roasting in a pan or by cooking. If they are not or only slightly heated, the spice blends should, by way of precaution, no longer be used but discarded in the residual waste.

Several positive effects are attributed to fenugreek seeds. For that reason fenugreek seeds are further processed into food supplements. As there are several producers of such products processing under various conditions, a general statement about survival of EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli bacteria in food supplements cannot be made by BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment.