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SunSprout
Salmonella Spreading Date Published: Monday, March 9th, 2009 Source
of Article: http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/4987 The
salmonella
outbreak linked to recalled SunSprout brand alfalfa sprouts that began in
Nebraska and spread into Iowa, has now been reported in South Dakota and
Kansas. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) announced that SunSprouts brand alfalfa, onion, and gourmet sprouts
were recalled and now, the Associated Press (AP) is reporting that the
outbreak has spread to two more states. According
to the AP, the South Dakota health department is reporting five salmonella
cases that might be linked to the growing outbreak; however, laboratory
testing is pending to confirm the link. Also, said the AP, the Nebraska health
department is confirming 17 cases, while 13 more are considered probable;
Iowa is reporting 12 confirmed and three probable cases; and Kansas has
confirmed five cases, with a possible sixth under investigation. Meanwhile,
the Kansas City Star says that 24 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul have been
confirmed in Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. The
Argus Leader said that of five people interviewed who had fallen ill, only
four ate sprouts at restaurants—indicating perhaps another salmonella
source—four remain to be reached and two have refused to cooperate, according
to South Dakota state Epidemiologist Lon Kightlinger, who noted that, “We can
link people to the outbreak, but we need to know where they ate and what they
ate.” The Argus Leader is reporting 50 cases of the rare Salmonella Saintpaul
have turned up in five states, including Missouri. And,
while the investigation into the Omaha, Nebraska firm that recalled the
sprouts continues, the cause has not yet been found, said ENews 2.0. SunSprout
Enterprises of Omaha Nebraska said that the recalled sprouts were sent to
food distributors in Iowa and Nebraska. Those distributors then sold the
sprouts to restaurants and retail stores, MarketWatch said in an earlier
report. Also, according to the AP, the Sunsprouts brand sprouts were
distributed by CW Sprouts of Omaha and sold at grocery stores and
restaurants; all of the recalled products are involved in the recall. While
the FDA is investigating what, if anything, contributed to the contamination
at the plant, said the AP, investigators are trying to determine if the
sprouts were contaminated earlier in the food chain. Sprouts
present a unique challenge when a food borne outbreak occurs because sprouts
can become tainted with salmonella prior to harvesting, when they are
growing. Also, the conditions required for sprout growing are optimal for
growing pathogens. Bacteria need the right temperature, nutrients, and water
and sprouts grow in watery, warm environments, ideal for rapid bacterial
growth. Sprouts are usually eaten raw with no additional treatment, such as
cooking, which eliminates bacteria that can cause disease and food borne
illnesses; washing sprouts does not necessarily remove bacteria because
bacteria grow within the sprouts and cannot be washed away. In
a prior report, WOWT pointed out that victims of this outbreak might be
eligible to receive reimbursement for costs related to medical care and lost
pay, noting that any business in the food chain, from farm to table, could be
potentially liable for the growing multi-state outbreak. From farm to table
includes just that, any vendor involved in the process, for instance, grocery
stores and restaurants. |
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