International Specialty Supply
Supplying Sprout Companies Throughout the World
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International Specialty Supply Supplying Sprout Companies Throughout the World
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820 East 20th Street Cookeville, TN 38501 USA 931 526 1106
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Food
For Thought SproutNet ISS August 21, 2000 Most
healthy people can handle small doses of Salmonella or E.coli 0157:H7. It
is the sick, young and elderly who take it the hardest. However, if the
dose is high enough, it can cause a problem to nearly anyone.
This is a problem with sprouts. If sprouts become contaminated in the
early stages of production, as can happen when contaminated seed is used, the
doses become very, very high. In the
Ukraine, last week, according to a story in the PA news, dozens of guests at a
silver wedding anniversary party were struck down with salmonella (not from
sprouts). The story says that 49 people of the 130 guests who had
attended the party were hospitalized; 19 adults and four children were reported
in serious condition. Stroud
District Council environmental health officer Philip Park was quoted as saying,
"Several food samples taken from leftovers tested positive for salmonella
but we have not been able to identify the specific foods related to the illness.
A number of foods appeared to be contaminated." In
this case, the people may have gotten a little sick to their if one of the foods
were contaminated. But, because several of the foods were contaminated,
the guests received a very high dose of salmonella and became very ill. Commercial
sprout producers create perfect growing conditions for sprouts and
pathogens alike. One salmonella bacteria cell may grow to 1,000,000 cells
in 48 hours. This is why when people get ill from sprouts they get very
sick. This highlights the importance or purchasing well sampled, tested,
un-scarified, undamaged seed, then sanitizing it, and post testing the crop.
ISS offers this seed and can help you with any questions about how to sanitize
and test it. |