Dear Louise: My concern centers on the fact that 1) diseases can be transmitted through seeds and 2)food grade seed was contaminated by animal feces. The reason Customs allows us to freely exchange seeds between countries is that diseases aren't transmitted from seeds. This e coli outbreak indicates that in fact disease can be transmitted from seed. Since all of us handle thousands of species of seed each year perhaps its time for the chemists to develop a method to disinfect the seeds before sowing. Gardener hands always have little cuts that invite contamination. Best, Vicki