Following the recent E.coli outbreak involving rocket leaves, a study conducted by Leicester scientists have uncovered that bagged salad carry's a high risk of the growth of food poisoning bacteria, including Salmonella.
The study uncovered that the moist environment combined with nutrients leaching out of chopped leaves created the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Research showed that the bacteria could even thrive in refrigerated conditions, people are advised to eat bagged salad on the day they buy it.
Bags are often kept moist to help keep the salad crisp and fresh, and the plants have often been chopped into individual leaves for convenience. The study showed sugars, proteins and minerals escaped from the cut leaves into the water in the bag.
The study, published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, showed that an initial contamination of 100 Salmonella bacteria would increase to 100,000 within five days.
Under the circumstances, the following advice has been reported on the BBC website:
Dr Freestone told the BBC News website: "Juices that naturally leach from the leaves have the potential to increase the growth of any pathogen that might be present and establish them so strongly that washing wouldn't be enough to eradicate them."
As previously reported earlier in the year an E.coli outbreak associated with mixed salad leaves resulted in a total of 161 cases of E.coli infections with more than 60 cases requiring hospital treatment and 2 fatalities.
How can you reduce the risk of getting infected with E.coli?
In light of the current and ongoing investigations, CSC are advising the following control measure be put in place to limit exposure to E.coli O157:
If you require any additional support regarding the prevention of E.coli O157, please do not hesitate to contact us
Source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-38026695
http://www.cs-compliance.co.uk/update-e-coli-o157-outbreak-investigations-ongoing/