Category Archives: outbreak

EFSA 

Sprouted seeds are young seedlings obtained from the germination of seeds. They are ready-to-eat foods which have caused large outbreaks. The bacterial pathogens most frequently associated with illness due to contaminated sprouted seeds are Salmonella and to a lesser extent STEC. Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica have also been transmitted by sprouted seeds, albeit very rarely. The EFSA has published a scientific opinion paper on the issue which can be accessed at the link above. There is a summary or you can download the 101 page full report.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today launched a new campaign reminding people to wash raw vegetables to help minimise the risk of food poisoning. The campaign is in response to E.coli outbreaks in Britain and abroad this year including one linked to soil on raw vegetables and another caused by contaminated sprouted seeds.

Poster Link

FnBnews has reported on the European Food Agency wanting new controls on sprouting seeds, I have just recently posted on the new Australian and NZ guidelines for sprouting seeds. Producers of sprouted seeds should tighten safety measures along the production chain as ready-to-eat food can cause large outbreaks of illness, the EU food safety agency said after thousands of people were hit by E.coli infection this year.