GERMANY: Warsteiner gets clearance after Legionella scare

By James Wilmore | 24 September 2013

The company has always maintained its products are safe

German authorities have given the all-clear to brewer Warsteiner's products following a Legionella outbreak at its brewery in the country.

The potentially lethal bacteria was found in the waste water at the Warsteiner production facility and tourists were warned to stay away from the area, the Finanical Times reported earlier this month. The bacteria was linked to an outbreak of sickness in the town of Warstein, in the Soest district, which infected 165 people and caused two deaths.

Yesterday, however, the country's Environment Ministry declared Warsteiner's output safe. The ministry said “no abnormalities” were found in seven samples taken from the brewery. Three beer samples, prior to bottling, and four water samples were tested.

Warsteiner had insisted throughout that its products were safe, but had set up a special consumer helpline to deal with concerns.

A Warsteiner spokesperson told just-drinks: “We are glad that – as expected - the harmlessness of our products is now also acknowledged by the public authorities. Our beer is clean and safe to consume.”

View Larger Map

Expert analysis

Beer in Germany

Beer in Germany industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market share, market size (value and volume 2008-12, and forecast to 2017). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the Germany beer market. Includes market size and segmentation data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

Sectors: Beer & cider