Leafy Veggie Contamination Rate Rising

CDC: Leafy Greens Consumption Up 9 Percent, But Related Illness Up 39 Percent

(CBS)  If you've gotten the feeling that there are more contaminated leafy green vegetables out there than there used to be, new numbers from federal researchers suggest you're right.

The researchers, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sought to see whether increased outbreaks of food contamination simply reflect the fact that health-conscious Americans are eating more fresh, leafy veggies such as cabbage, spinach and salad greens than they used to, Early Show medical contributor Dr. Emily Senay said Wednesday.

But, she says, they found it's apparently more than that.

During the decade that ended in 2005, consumption of leafy greens rose by nine percent, according to the researchers, but outbreaks of food-borne illnesses attributed to those foods increased by what Senay dubs "a dramatic" 39 percent -- more than four times as fast.

The CDC investigators aren't sure what's at work here, Senay pointed out to Russ Mitchell, noting, "You can't say it's just that Americans are eating more of this stuff. Something else is going on."

It's clear, she continued, that there are plenty of opportunities for food to be contaminated on what can be a long journey from the farm to your kitchen, and even in your kitchen.

The new numbers, Senay observed, show that this problem in the food supply system is growing, and needs solutions.

More than half the outbreaks reported involved a family of viruses called noro-virus, which is often carried by human or animal waste. The next two most common forms of infection came from a pair of well-known forms of food-borne bacteria, salmonella and e-coli.

Over the past 30 years, contaminants in leafy vegetables are blamed for more than 18,000 illnesses, and 15 deaths.

Overall, she says, this is a reminder of how vigilant consumers need to be when purchasing and preparing fresh vegetables.

One problem, says Senay, is that we pretty much can't identify tainted veggies just by looking at them. Of course, if you see any portions of the food that are clearly damaged, the Food and Drug Administration says to cut them off and throw them out.

But veggies can look fine and still be contaminated.

Experts say your best protection is to take everything to a sink, put it under a stream of warm running water, and rinse it out thoroughly -- not just casually -- thoroughly. And don't use soap or detergent to wash it, because the ingredients in soap aren't anything you want to eat, either.

Do a really good job rinsing these vegetables, and you improve your chances of getting the important nutrition they veggies offer -- rather than the contaminants!

[drivelphobe]

Wow, 15 deaths in thirty years. That''s one every 24 months out of a population of over three hundred million. That''s .000005%. Sounds like a crisis.

It''s time to use modern, high tech machines to harvest our crops and get rid of low paid, dirty, defecating sub-human laborers who are ignorant of sanitation and incapable of understanding consequences of taking a dump in the field or urinating on the crops.

Washing your produce doesn''t remove the contamination that has been integrated into the tissues through the root system into the leafy structures.

Next time you order a salad in a restaurant, think about how many illegals might have helped process it as you ingest the bacteria and viruses.

Enjoy!

[moderateman]

Just becasue the illegals contaminate the food chain, and just because they are ILLEGALLY in this country is no reason to be mean to them. Let''s applaud them for their cultural contributions such as gangs and grugs.

[moderateman]

Sorry....meant to say drugs.

[dnsallday]

Right, let us put the blame on illegal immigrants. We should be so proud of the American Corporations, that hire them but do not provide or allow any means for sanitary toileting issues. Thinking doesn''t hurt as much as you may be afraid of. Try it. Do you believe that the corporations that are profiting care about our health or wellbeing? My heart goes out to the people who have to risk their health, wellbeing and their lives in order to feed their starving families. I ask how many of us would be willing to tolerate similar conditions and situation or would we allow our families to starve rather than work in a field with no sanitation facilities?

[beehive21-2009]

White Vinegar,thx for the tip

[darkfyreaol]

Washing them gets rid of the contaminants on the surface. If you want to ensure food safety, I''d suggest cooking them till they''re above 160 degrees F. Possibly exposure to high intensity ultraviolet light can penetrate shallowly into the surface.

[drivelphobe]

My heart goes out to the people who have to risk their health, well-being and their lives in order to feed their starving families.

posted by truthmatterz

Thank you for understanding the plight of the American citizens who have lost their jobs due to the illegals. You are correct that the corporations could care less about the conditions of the workers, however, they care just a little for us.

If wages and conditions were appropriate, American citizens would gladly provide the labor for harvesting. The American consumer will gladly spend more for the goods if it would put an end to the illegal worker. This is a win win. No more illegals and a healthier food supply.

Your "thinking" comment reveals your true colors.

[randynason]

Maybe people are becoming sick due to contaminated food because the agency responsible for oversight adheres to the Bush policy of, "Why should I care? Is that really my job?" Or, as Cheney put it so eloquently, "F-, you!"

[tucano2]

Illegal Aliens hustled across the border by multinational corporations that criminally hire them for peanuts. The Illegals bring cheapened wages, also TB, eColi, and many other infectious diseases into our country and spread them onto the food we eat. America is sick, guess why?

[easeup-2009]

"Maybe people are becoming sick due to contaminated food because the agency responsible for oversight adheres to the Bush policy of, "Why should I care? Is that really my job?" Or, as Cheney put it so eloquently, "F-, you!"

Posted by RandyNason at 12:41 PM : Mar 19, 2008"

The study was between 1995 & 2005. Maybe you should have someone read you the articles before you post.

[dnsallday]

If wages and conditions were appropriate, American citizens would gladly provide the labor for harvesting. XXXX I AGREE WITH THIS AND THAT IS WHY I PUT THE BLAME SQUARELY ON THE CORPORATIONS RATHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING ''WHATEVER IT TAKES'' TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES.XXXX The American consumer will gladly spend more for the goods if it would put an end to the illegal worker.XXXXX NOTHING WOULD MAKE ME HAPPIER THAN TO SEE ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS ANY TRUTH TO THAT STATEMENT.XXXXXXXXXXXXX This is a win win. No more illegals and a healthier food supply.

Your "thinking" comment reveals your true colors.




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Posted by drivelphobe a

[bookout2]

Keep the Mexicans out. Pay good wages for American
workers. Problem solved.

[gunownerdan]

Many fruits and vegetables are being genetically modified in labs by mad-scientists trying to create their very own "Frankenstein" monsters.
They are even mixing animal DNA with plant DNA.