Bean and seed sprouts are ubiquitous at health restaurants and gatherings of
vegans, vegetarians and health oriented folk because they are apparently
"healthy" and "slimming". Thus, this research article about the possible
risks of eating, well-washed seed sprouts should be most interesting for
anyone who is vegetarian or otherwise concerned with eating healthily.
The implications are that even the "healthiest" raw vegetable foods even when
washed with powerful oxidising agents such as household bleach are not
necessarily safe to eat and that cooked food still has an important place in
one's diet. It is not only undercooked or raw meat, eggs, poultry and egg
nog that may poison one with salmonella or E coli (O157:H7)!
Mel C Siff
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Taormina P, Beuchat L & L Slutsker "Infections Associated with Eating Seed
Sprouts: An International Concern" Emerging Infectious Diseases 5(5), 1999.
Centers for Disease Control
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of Salmonella and Escherichia coli infections associated
with raw seed sprouts have occurred in several countries. Subjective
evaluations indicate that pathogens can exceed 107 per 1 gram
of sprouts produced from inoculated seeds during sprout production without
adversely affecting physical appearance. Treating seeds and sprouts with
chlorinated water or other disinfectants fails to eliminate the pathogens.
A comprehensive approach based on good manufacturing practices and principles
of hazard analysis and critical control points can reduce the risk of
sprout-associated disease. But, until effective measures to prevent
sprout-associated illness are identified, persons who wish to reduce their
risk of foodborne illness from raw sprouts are advised not to eat them; in
particular, persons at high risk for severe complications of infections with S
almonella or E. coli O157:H7, such as the elderly, children, and those with
compromised immune systems, should not eat raw sprouts.
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Dr Mel C Siff
Denver, USA
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