> ==========
> bionet/microbiology #4380, from nsuyeda at aol.com, 845 chars, 25 Nov
1996 04:47:36
> ----------
> Article: 5381 of bionet.microbiology
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> From: nsuyeda at aol.com> Newsgroups: bionet.microbiology
> Subject: Re: Salmonella threat to Vegans?
> Date: 25 Nov 1996 04:47:36 GMT
> Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com> Lines: 6
> Message-ID: <19961125044900.XAA08051 at ladder01.news.aol.com>
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> X-Admin: news at aol.com>> Salmonella in sprouts (such as alfalfa sprouts used in sandwiches) has
> caused illness more than once.
>> I don't know why the bacteria has an affinity for this product, or how
> it's introduced into the production process.
> Sue
Hi Sue,
Alfalfa (Lucerne to Brits) is a pretty common plant and very popular
with livestock producers. This gives plenty of opportunity for seed to
pick up Salmonella. It is a nitrogen (protein) rich substrate and when
germinated for sandwiches produces an exudate that is VERY suitable for
a bug such as Salmonella. Seed germination may not always be carried out
by people who are well versed in microbiology OR general food hygiene. I
have often seen alfalfa (and more often "bean shoots" (mung bean
usually)) products that were obviously past their "best buy" date and
would not have touched them with a bargepole.
The bottom line is that veg/vegan foods are subject to just the same
rules of potential food poisoning exposure as carnivorous foods. The
moral attraction of vegetarian principles does not confer immunity to
the basic laws of microbiology. Pity really,
Peter Harris,
Carnivore but veg sympathetic.
Reading.UK.
