There have been many surprising foods linked to salmonella lately, including tainted peanut butter and pistachios. Now government health officials are encouraging people to avoid raw alfalfa sprouts, since they may be contaminated with a strain of salmonella. There have been 31 cases of illness reported since mid-March in Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia. Sickness came after people said they consumed raw alfalfa sprouts obtained at restaurants or bought from stores. Since the sprouts were grown in multiple states, the FDA says the seeds used to make the sprouts are contaminated.
So for now, I'd pass on the sprouts in your salad and on your sandwiches.
Sportmax
Christian Louboutin
Mothercare
I don't have these sprouts that often. Bean sprouts are another story, though.
1I thought sprouts were pretty susceptible to contamination, and that because it's in the seed, even homegrown sprouts can be contaminated.
2tlsgirl--yep, you're right. Sprouts are pretty notorious for harboring Salmonella because the seeds hold the bacteria. It's not caused by the growing method, so yeah, you have to be really careful with them. Alfalfa sprouts are the only produce item I don't buy because of that risk. I suppose if you soak them in a bath of VERY weak bleach water for a few minutes and then rinse them off about 10 times, you can maybe get rid of it.
3I actually never knew about sprouts being notorious for harboring salmonella, it is good to know. I have had salmonella once when I was a kid, and out of all of the illnesses I have ever had, it was probably the worse I have ever had( next to shingles). I have learned that if there is talk about salmonella with a food, I stay away.
4This seems to be an ongoing problem with these sprouts. They are always on alert. Its too bad because I dearly love these sprouts in a salad and on sandwhiches. But I have refrained from buying them over the years because of the outbreak. I wish there was something they could do to prevent this from happening.
5How about I was one of the unreported cases of Salmonella poisioning? I finally got over it last week. SMH.
6Awww mannnnn, not another one!
7I'm cut off from sprouts anyway because I'm pregnant, but normally I eat them like crazy. Wonder what will be recalled next. :/
8Pistachio Salmonella Warning Expanded Again: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/5834#more-5834
9Oh no!!! I love alfalfa sprouts! I eat them every day! This is almost more upsetting to me than swine flu.
10Somebody I know who works at the FDA said they've always known alfalfa sprouts are salmonella gardens, but interest groups have been keeping them busy with less important things like genetically modified plants.
11Imported Sprout Seeds Implicated in Salmonella Outbreaks: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/5919#more-5919
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