Bad News For Vegetarians: Study Finds Leafy Greens Cause Most Food Poisoning

[Purveyor]

One may wish to bypass the salad at their next meal thanks to a new study on food poisoning.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their study Tuesday that found leafy green vegetables are the leading source of bacteria that causes food poisoning.

The study analyzed cases of food poisoning from 1998 through 2008 to identify which foods carry the most germs that cause illness.

No other study by the agency to date has been so comprehensive in its attempt to find risky foods.

MORE...

http://kfyo.com/bad-news-for-vegetarians-study-finds-leafy-greens-cause-most-food-poisoning/

[Common Sense Party]

1. I must be the healthiest guy around.

I rarely eat green, leafy nasties, so I'm not a leading candidate for food poisoning.

Donut poisoning, on the other hand...

[oldhippydude]

3. donut poisoning holier than thou? or simply a crumby substitute ? n/t

[frazzled]

2. Not just vegetarians eat leafy greens

Or at least I hope. I eat tons of cooked and raw greens, and I am not a vegetarian. Everyone should be eating a range of vegetables every day.

Although it is not the culprit in every case, making sure to wash all your greens throughly in several changes of fresh water, is something that far too many people fail to do. (The spinach outbreak from a few years ago was immune to any effects from washing). I'm crazy OCD about washing everything before I cook or eat it.

I'd be more suspect of poultry or bad ground beef.

[Purveyor]

4. I think the pre-bagged greens are mostly the culprits. Too many think that because they are

packaged, they are good right out of the bag without a wash.

[FarCenter]

5. The greens are washed before being bagged

Which means that the bacteria on the filthiest produce gets distributed through the whole batch before it is bagged.

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. yikes. I had no idea.

[WinkyDink]

45. If it's washed, how does this follow?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. yep, washing and chopping it yourself

is safer and MUCH cheaper.

[NoOneMan]

9. Washing isn't always enough

A lot of crap is deep down, below the surface. Veggies are mostly water you know. Thats why you avoid veggies in the third world on visits...they can be grown on sewage runoff at the bottom of hills that communities are above, where its a breeding ground for nasties (apparently the first world has these issues as well).

Grow your own lettuce with your compost.

[frazzled]

22. I believe I said that, if you recall.

That does not mean that you should not thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables.

[villager]

7. You mean cause of all the animal shit that gets on them from industrial meat production?

[Chef Eric]

8. Newsflash: Water is the leading carrier of waterborne disease!

You'd better stop drinking water if you want to be safe.

[NoOneMan]

11. Thank you captain obvious!

That was my first thought. Isn't this headline common sense?

[Chef Eric]

15. Here's how I read it: "Meat Good! Vegetables Bad!"

Note that the source for this story is kfyo.com, and that KFYO radio broadcasts Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

Hmm, could it be that they have a corporate, pro-factory-farming agenda?

Meat good! Vegetables bad!

[mike_c]

10. i'm an unrepentant carnivore who once got the worst salmonella ever...

...from freshly made cole slaw. Guess I didn't wash the cabbage enough. Took it on a camping trip a long way out into the great basin desert. One of the worst nights I've ever spent.

I should have gotten the clue the night before. I ate a couple of bites of cole slaw along with some other food and promptly vomited, I mean like within minutes of eating the cabbage, while I was still eating dinner. Stepped behind a pinyon and tossed my cookies. I thought it was most likely the elevation though-- I live at sea level and we'd driven directly to about 8000 ft-- so I just put away the rest of dinner and started chugging water. I'd thrown up the couple of bites of cole slaw I'd eaten, so I was fine.

The next night I ate a full serving, and didn't start getting sick for an hour or so. Tossed the solid contents of my stomach pretty quickly-- I know, WAY too much information-- but cramped and heaved for another ten hours or so. We were hours from a hospital, so the collective wisdom was "let's see what happens." I recovered. It was truly awful.

[kestrel91316]

14. Only time I ever was sure I had food poisoning was several years back after

having a lovely green salad (no cheese, meat, etc) with vinaigrette dressing at a restaurant my BF warned me about and didn't want to go to, but I insisted, lol.

Spent the first half of the night vomiting and the second half having diarrhea. I begged somebody to just shoot me. Missed work the next day - was too exhausted to get out of bed, but obviously my body had purged itself of the culprit.

[HiPointDem]

37. if you vomited within minutes of eating the cole slaw it's unlikely the cole slaw was the culprit.

[mike_c]

43. that was my thought too...

...and why I dismissed the possibility the first night. There was no doubt the second night. I was the only person who ate the slaw, and the only one who became ill. The rest of the meal was shared.

But yeah, the first night the reaction came within minutes, before I'd eaten more than a partial serving.

[HiPointDem]

50. If symptoms are 1–6 hours after eating it suggests causation by a bacterial toxin or chemical,

not live bacteria.

[mike_c]

55. I would have thought so too, especially...

...with such an acidic dressing (I dress slaw with hot vinegar/canola oil/honey). But there's no doubt it was the fresh slaw that did me in. Put me off my favorite recipe, too. I haven't made it since. Emetics are EXCELLENT negative reenforcement!

[WinkyDink]

47. Could've been the mayo/dairy, not the cabbage.

[mike_c]

51. vinegar/oil/honey dressing....

That's likely why I was the only one eating the slaw, LOL. I'm the only deep coastal southerner in the group, and I dress my slaw with hot vinegar, canola oil, honey, and celery seeds, then refrigerate. No dairy, no mayo.

[lynne]

67. Food poisoning usually takes 17-24 hrs. to show effects -

- which is why there is sometimes confusion as to the cause. People will blame that last thing they ate when they actually need to look at what they ate 17-24 hours ago.

Learned this from my doctor after getting food poisoning when 6 months pregnant. Talk about sick as a dog . . . wouldn't wish that on any animal.

[kestrel91316]

12. The problem isn't leafy greens. The problem IS:

A) Filthy, disgusting corporate agricultural practices designed to maximize profit at the expense of safety and hygiene
B) Consumers who have no concept of food safety and wouldn't know good hygiene if it came up and bit them in the ass - and who deny that risk exists, and won't listen to safety recommendations, and are too busy yakking on their iPhones to remember any safety tips anyone told them

[Spider Jerusalem]

20. more hygiene than anything

what do you think fertiliser is? Organic produce is probably more of a risk for e. coli and such, considering.

[kestrel91316]

39. Properly composted animal waste is not hazardous. Fresh, uncomposted

waste "lagoon" contents are extremely hazardous.

Guess which one is preferred by industrial agriculture as a cost-saving measure?

Organic-labeled produce can NOT be fertilized with uncomposted manure and still be called organic. But thanks for buying into that RW talking point.

[baldguy]

66. +1000

[niyad]

13. geez, can we say a bit of skewed reporting there:

(notice how there is no breakdown of the figures. and the very next article is about how mickeyd's does not help make kids fat)

48 million Americans, or roughly 1 in 6, suffer from food poisoning each year

128,000 food poisoning cases require hospitalization and 3,000 results in death, on average.

While leafy greens are responsible for most food poisoning cases overall, contaminated poultry is the leading cause for cases that end in death.

[Chef Eric]

17. Consider the source.

The "story" is from kfyo.com, affiliated with KFYO radio in Lubbock, TX. Your home for Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.

[niyad]

21. yes, I saw that--was my first thought, since it's talk radio. the study from cdc says a little

differently, and you notice the kfyo story contained no real numbers. I also like the fact that the next article down was about how mickeyd's doesn't help make kids fat.

[obamanut2012]

30. +1

[Hekate]

16. Boil them cabbages down, boys. That'll kill the bugs.

A lot of our immigrant ancestors could relate, I guess.

Took me awhile to find the more appropriate fast-stepping version (how I learned it in my hootenanny days):

http://vidgrids.com/bile-them-cabages-down

[jberryhill]

42. Here's a snappy one

[Hekate]

49. Good one!

Love the Smothers Brothers.

[niyad]

18. some more informative articles

Leafy greens responsible for 46% of food-borne infections, CDC says






Though leafy greens accounted for the most U.S. food-related illnesses, poultry caused the most deaths, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. The
Atlanta-based agency examined 4,589 food-related disease outbreaks from 1998 to 2008, the first comprehensive study of its kind by the agency.

The CDC looked at outbreaks across 17 food categories and found that almost half of all outbreaks originated from leafy greens, which include lettuce and spinach.
Researchers found that leafy greens accounted for 46% of all infections reported. Many of those illnesses were caused by norovirus, which is characterized by symptoms such as diarrhea and stomach cramping.

The agency also found that more than half of food-borne norovirus outbreaks were caused by sick food handlers, and more than 80% of outbreaks involved food prepared in commercial settings such as restaurants or catering businesses.

While meat and poultry accounted for fewer illnesses, food-borne disease outbreaks from this type of food accounted for 29% of deaths.
Of that, poultry was responsible for 19%. Many of the deaths were linked to listeria outbreaks from sliced delicatessen turkey. Salmonella was another pathogen found in poultry that also contributed to deaths.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-food-borne-illness-cdc-20130129,0,5126816.story


Leafy greens top source of food-borne illnesses, CDC says


January 29, 2013, 12:20 p.m.

Those leafy greens you're always trying to incorporate into your diet? A study released Tuesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says leafy greens such as spinach, kale and lettuces were accountable for the most food-borne illnesses in the U.S. in the decade from 1998 to 2008.

But don't give up those greens, experts say, noting that most are safe. Though more people may have gotten sick from plants, bad dairy caused the most hospitalizations and contaminated poultry led to the most deaths, the study said. A reminder: Wash or cook your food thoroughly.

The study covered 128,269 illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths caused by 4,887 food-borne outbreaks, many caused by norovirus. Leafy greens accounted for 23% of illnesses. But of hospitalizations, dairy products were responsible for 16%, leafy greens 14% and poultry 12%. Poultry accounted for 19% of deaths, and 10% were caused by dairy products. Many of the outbreaks were linked to unpasteurized dairy products, but most Americans drink and eat only pasteurized milk, cream and other dairy.
. . . .

The total number of deaths during the years that the study covered was small: 277 people died from illnesses linked to poultry and 140 from illnesses linked to dairy.

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/dailydish/la-dd-leafy-greens-food-borne-illnesses-cdc-20130129,0,416806.story

[HiPointDem]

38. "and more than 80% of outbreaks involved food prepared in commercial settings such as restaurants"

so it's not really the leafy greens, it's the food handlers in commercial establishments.

good to know.

[RebelOne]

19. This report is so asinine. We vegetarians eat the same foods as carnivores.

We just don't eat meat. Vegans are a whole difference story. They do not eat any animal products. Vegetarians eat dairy products.

[Aerows]

31. Vegans are ridiculous

I lived with one.

I could *possibly* stop eating meat, but doing without milk and cheese? I'd freaking starve to death. Eggs could be done away with entirely and I wouldn't miss them. But milk, cheese and dairy? Oh no.

[Recursion]

24. Farm hands don't get bathroom breaks

Ponder that, and wash your greens.

[cali]

25. stupid title. so only vegetarians eat spinach and lettuces?

[blogslut]

26. oh, geeze

What an insulting title.

Here, let me fix it:

Contaminated Produce a Result of Anti-Regulation Hysteria

[HockeyMom]

27. I got food poisoning from tainted tomatoes

This was in Florida about 4 years ago. Although I live about 10 miles from where the majority of US tomatoes are grown, a lot of our produce here comes from Mexico and South America. Stupid? Yes, but that is a whole other discussion.

[Aerows]

28. Vegans and vegetarians will still get on a high horse

that they are better than the rest of us. I lived with a vegan for 3 years. I know what they eat, and I'm a hell of a lot healthier than she ever was.

[handmade34]

44. 1 vegan

does not represent the whole...

[Aerows]

54. True

And thanks for keeping me off of my own high horse

[bunnies]

29. Ill take my chances with veggies over decaying animal flesh any day. nt

[Aerows]

32. I'll enjoy your share of decaying animal flesh

with relish, without disdain, and feeling blessed that you decided to leave your share for me.

[bunnies]

34. Its all yours!

I respect your choice to eat whatever you desire.

[Aerows]

36. As I respect yours

[bunnies]

40. Wouldnt it be nice if all conversations on this matter went so well?

[Aerows]

41. Indeed my friend

it would be a much better world

Now there is a bunny with a pancake on his head.

Discuss

[bunnies]

48. *ahem*

<---- Put the fork down.

[Aerows]

52. I thought you'd get a kick out of that :)

I can't help but tease my friends, and I mean it in the most playful and gentle of ways.

[bunnies]

60. twas the first laugh I had all night! Though...

I might have to change my avatar to broccoli before I jump into these threads in the future.

[MoonRiver]

46. Here you can have mine too...

[Aerows]

53. I'll take it :)

I'll save you the sickness.

[Cleita]

33. Fruit too. You need to wash the skins before cutting into

them, especially fruit like melons. You may think the rind won't spread bacteria but it does. I wash everything and the greens with the same anti-bacterial soap I wash my hands with. Remember your plant food is grown in dirt which is composted of decaying dead plant material and animal manures, all carriers of microscopic wild life.

[longship]

35. The best diet is a diverse diet.

Eat vegetables; eat meat. But always in moderation. Exercise, in moderation. That's how humans evolved. That's the best strategy for long life. Do what humans have done for millions of years.

Diets can only take you so far. Eat what you like, but do not over do it.

There's no hope for the breathaireans. They just die. Darwin Award for them. Good riddens.

Eat what you like. But do so in moderation. That's the best dietary advice one could give.

[rucky]

56. Don't buy the bagged stuff. n/t

[Warpy]

57. I guess cooked greens are the way to go

since cooking destroys all those nasty enteric pathogens.

Fortunately, I was never fond of raw leafy greens except lettuce, and I used to grow my own so I knew it was uncontaminated.

[Zoeisright]

58. Life causes death.

Every single food on the planet can give you food poisoning if handled incorrectly.

[smirkymonkey]

59. Crap! I eat massive amount of dark leafy greens every day. Am I going to die?

So far, I seem to be healthy. But I love greens!

I hope I don't have to give them up. They are a mainstay of my diet. I eat tons of spiniach, romaine and kale salad every single day. I eat Swiss chard, bok choy, tatsoi, escarole, etc whenever I can get them at the market. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh......

[nobodyspecial]

61. Talk about burying the story

"contaminated poultry is the leading cause for cases that end in death."

So you may get sick from greens, but POULTRY will kill you. I think I'll take my chances with the greens.

[whatchamacallit]

62. Whatever, becoming vegetarian was an intelligent move

I feel great.

[Marrah_G]

63. wash your veggie!

And don't buy the bagged stuff

[LWolf]

64. Leafy greens

are my favorite vegetable, and I eat more of them than any other kind.

There's a really simple solution: wash your greens before you eat them.

[NCTraveler]

65. Not sure why vegetarians have to be singled out.

I am not a vegetarian and I eat leafy greens all of the time. I love my leafy greens.

[lynne]

68. Easy fix. Grow your own!

Greens can successfully be grown in large flower pots, even in window boxes. Most are "cut and cut again" and will continue to regenerate until they bolt.

Lot's of greens winter over and actually taste better after some frost. Have collards, kale, and cabbage doing nicely in the garden right now.