Elderly, Children, Pregnant Women - "Dont Eat Raw Sprouts"

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Cooking Tips : How to Pick Alfalfa Sprouts

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  Created by Sudha Krishna | add comment

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  Created by Sudha Krishna | add comment

Health Canada is re-issuing a warning to people, particularly the elderly, children and pregnant women not to eat raw or undercooked sprouts because the sprouts could be carrying harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, which can lead to serious illness.

A release from Health Canada says,

Fresh produce can sometimes be contaminated with harmful bacteria while in the field or during storage or handling. This is particularly a concern with sprouts. Many outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli infections have been linked to contaminated sprouts. The largest recent outbreak in Canada was in the fall of 2005, when more than 648 cases of Salmonella were reported in Ontario.

Your best to avoid illness is to fully cook the sprouts  and if you do purchase sprouts here is what to look for - always select crisp ones that have been refrigerated and avoid those that seem dark or dank. Always use tongs or a glove to place the sprouts in a plastic bag. If possible, when eating in a restaurant, always make sure that the sprouts are fully cooked.

Another option is to grow your own sprouts at home.