CDC renews sprout warning

[Gauracandra]

CDC renews sprout warning

Cook them or stay away to avoid salmonella, E. coli

Even after washing, raw sprouts can cause food-borne illnesses, the CDC warns.

 

ATLANTA, Jan. 10 — Federal health officials Thursday renewed warnings about the raw alfalfa sprouts often served on sandwiches and salads, saying they can be contaminated with salmonella or E. coli bacteria.

 

THE SPROUTS should be thoroughly cooked to kill the bacteria, and some people should stay away altogether, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

 

The Food and Drug Administration warned Americans four years ago not to eat raw alfalfa, clover and other sprouts after hundreds of reports of bacteria-related illnesses.

 

The new warning came after a CDC investigation of a salmonella outbreak that sickened 32 people last year in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. The outbreak, which caused diarrhea and urinary tract infections, was traced to a batch of raw alfalfa sprouts.

 

Dr. Mark Beatty of the CDC’s National Center for Infectious Diseases said the outbreak revealed a “misconception” that sprouts were healthy food. At least three of the people involved in the outbreak ate sprouts partly for health reasons.

 

Once perceived as perfect foods for an increasingly health-conscious nation, clover, alfalfa and radish sprouts have in the past decade gained a dodgy reputation as scientists and health officials linked them to food-borne illnesses.

 

Last year’s outbreak was traced to alfalfa sprouts from a single producer, which subsequently issued a voluntary recall and ceased all production pending an internal review. The seeds involved were imported from Australia late in 2000.

 

Decontaminating seed sprouts is a difficult — perhaps impossible — chore as bacteria can hide away in tiny cracks and survive processing. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that producers soak the seeds in a calcium hypochlorite solution for 15 minutes.

[Tarun]

Health & Fitness Tip of the Day - Mon4Mar-> 28Sep2002

Raw Sprouts

Eating raw sprouts, such as alfalfa or clover, can lead to food-derived illness as sprouts often come into contact with Salmonella or E. coli from the feces of animals. In addition, even though pre-treating or soaking the sprouts in a chlorine solution can reduce the chance of contamination, it does not completely eliminate it, according to a study published in the December 1, 2001 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. For the study, researchers analyzed data from 20 of 112 people involved in an outbreak of Salmonella in Colorado in 1999. Nearly half of those with Salmonella poisoning studied had consumed raw sprouts prior to the outbreak. The US Food and Drug Administration recommends that people cook sprouts thoroughly before consuming them. This is especially important for those who are at risk for serious complications from a bacterial infection, such as the elderly, young children, and those with a weakened immune system. The study authors also reminded readers to use caution when dining out, as many restaurants include raw sprouts in salads and sandwiches.

- M. Ellman

These tips are for educational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical attention or professional diagnoses. If you have health concerns, or want to start an exercise program, please consult your health care provider before embarking on any activity or treatment.

High-quality Mandoline, used by professional chefs.

Bring excellence to the home kitchen. Three interchangeable blades, slices, juliennes, and crinkle- and waffle-cuts fruits and vegetables!

EMAZING Quote of the Day

Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today.

- Phil Connors, 'Groundhog Day'

[Guest guest]

Always sensed those little seeds was suspect especially if they are not completely fresh, they have an ominous odour like stagnant water.

Oh my Sri prasadam please don't forsake us.

It's all the more reason in this minefield of poison why we should be constantly vigilant in taking Krsna prasadam at every step. So much of the health food industry has also turned into a hoax.

Where ever there's a little cash to be made that's where you'll find them. There's a certain kind of culture that breeds around the scent of money and it's a lot worse than salmonella.

Get that Bhakti-lata bacteria on the go, the weeds is comin'

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

What about homemade sprouts? I think they should be clean. We make them from whole moong dahl wrapped in a wet cloth.

 

[Guest guest]

Mung is much better as they don't decompose as quick as the delicate alfalfa tribe. But without refrigeration they can go pretty rancid in humidity still. The key is probably getting them before those other little micro-organisms get on the march.

[Guest guest]

Home made everything is always the best, but who has the time and patience + dedication to do it all unless you are living in a community that feeds itself from its own system?

On the other hand I'm starting to not trust anything commercial. How can we know the habits and mentalities of many of the people behind all these products?

[Avinash]

It is quite easy to make sprouts at home, It takes very little time. Put moong in the night for sprouting. But, eat it up early in the morning, otherwise it may start decomposing.

[theist]

E-coli has been traced back to the fields where the seeds are harvested from.The cow manure used contaminates the seeds and the bacteria gets on the seeds and even living in small cracks in the seeds.

 

Each plant may be different.I think it would depend on if the seed is exposed or not.I would think sunflowers would be fine due to the shell.I just don't know how things grow.I thought seeds and beans grew in plastic bags until I started looking into this.

 

This whole thing is a real drag.I really like sprouts.