Food poisoning bacteria found in packaged Greens

We have all seen the "prewashed" and "triple washed" salad in a bag under producing supermarkets, and is a welcome convenience. Available in the early 1990s, the annual sales easier than ever side dish has reached almost $ 3 billion annually. The problem is that despite what it says on the packet, the contents may not be as clean as you would like, with some containing bacteria food poisoning.

A new survey by the consumers Union, publishers of consumer reports found that high levels of bacteria usually associated with poor sanitation and fecal contamination in many of the packaged salads are sampled.

The researchers found that organisms do not endanger the health of the public, but because bacteria were there, it makes it more likely that there is no contamination by rare (and possibly deadly) pathogens such as e. coli and salmonella.

The last outbreak of e. coli, which originates in the autumn of 2006, was traced to packaged spinach and killed three, hospitalizing more than 100. The cause of the contamination was confirmed, but e. coli was widely believed to have reached the spinach via groundwater that had cattle and pig feces in it.

The sample for the test included 208 packaged salads acquired last summer in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Sixteen represented marks and salads sold in bags or plastic clamshell containers.

Bacteria levels have varied very little, with some specimens having detectable levels, while others are literally too many agencies, with more than 1 million colony forming units (CFUs) per gram.

The researchers found that 39% of samples had more than 10,000 CFUs per gram-a measure of total coliforms bacteria associated with fecal contamination. In addition, 23% had more than 10,000 CFUs per gram of the bacterium enterococcus. Experts contacted by consumer reports as part of the investigation it was found that these planes were unacceptable.

The survey also found:

Spinach Salad mixes that had tended to have higher levels of bacteria.

Packaging, either used or clamshell container does not result in contamination levels.

National distributed brands and smaller, regional brand presented a small difference in levels of bacteria. All brands with more than four samples had at least one package with relatively high levels of total coli or enterococcus.

The products labeled "organic" were just as likely to have bacteria that are not labeled in this way.

Packaged products tested within 5 days from the date it had higher levels of bacteria than those tested the mark 6-day.

The industry responded to reports of consumers track, reminding everyone that the bacteria found by researchers do not pose a health risk to people.

Trade groups call on Congress to pass food safety reform and adequate funding for the FDA to allow the Agency to fulfill its mission to protect the public.

Consumers Union senior scientist Michael Hansen, Ph.d. suggests that consumers should look for products that are at least 6 days from the date of use, when the markets for packaged salads.

To protect against food poisoning bacteria, it is necessary to Wash the contents, regardless of what it says on the package to make sure the Greens are good-for-you really do your body good.