Food Safety News – November 2010
Salmonella outbreak linked to raw bean sprouts
An investigation by the Health Protection Agency has identified 106 cases of Salmonella Bareilly in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the beginning of August with possible links to raw bean sprouts. The investigation is ongoing and no conclusive source has been identified. However, as a precaution the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is reminding people of its advice on eating uncooked bean sprouts and on preparing and cooking bean sprouts. The FSA advice can be found on the link below.
This news story is a timely reminder that food poisoning bacteria can be found on the most unlikely of products. Between 1992-2007 there were 120 outbreaks of food poisoning associated with salads and vegetables.
The FSA advises people to:
- keep bean sprouts refrigerated
- avoid sprouts that have turned brown or have a strange odour
- rinse raw bean sprouts thoroughly
- follow any instructions on the packaging and use the bean sprouts by the ‘use by’ dates
- bean sprouts not labelled ‘ready to eat’ should be cooked thoroughly until they are piping hot all the way through
- if you are unsure whether the bean sprouts are ‘ready to eat’, or in the absence of clear preparation instructions, always cook the bean sprouts thoroughly before eating. This includes bean sprouts that are labelled or appear ‘pre-washed’, but are not described as ‘ready to eat’
For any person considered to be in a vulnerable group:
- as a precautionary measure, cook all bean sprouts before eating them
- ensure bean sprouts are heated thoroughly until they are piping hot all the way through, including those labelled ‘ready to eat’
Vulnerable groups are people with weakened immune systems, as well as the elderly, the very young and pregnant women.
Because of the possibility that fruit, salads and vegetables van carry pathogenic bacteria, we recommend the use of Fit fruit and vegetable wash to ensure your produce is safe to eat.
Fit Wash is 100% natural and an excellent alternative to chlorine. Best of all, there is evidence it kills 99.9% of bacteria including E.coli O157, Salmonella and Listeria.Find out more about Fit Wash
We offer a range of Food Safety Solutions to help you ensure all foods sold are safe to eat
Please call us on 01727 866779 or email info@hygieneauditsystems.com for more information
