18.jan.07
Marshall Independent (Minnesota)
Cheryl Rude
http://marshallindependent.com/Columns/articles.asp?articleID=9123
According to this column, the most recent incident of contaminated lettuce and spinach has been traced back to a company in California that had experienced localized flooding. It is thought that some contaminated water washed up through the streams and rivers and contaminated the produce. In response to this problem, the company involved has said in a press release that it will now test all fresh greens that it processes for the disease before it enters any of their processing facilities.
We can take steps too, to assure safer food. The following tips are from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control):
1. If you are served undercooked meat at a restaurant, send it back for futher cooking. You should ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too.
2. Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat meat. Wash hands, counters, and utensils with hot soapy water after they touch raw meat. Never place cooked hamburgers or ground beef on the unwashed plate that held raw patties. Wash meat thermometers between tests of patties that require further cooking.
3. Drink only pasteurized milk, juice or cider.
4. Wash fruits and vegetables under running water, especially those that will not be cooked. Be aware that bacteria are sticky, so even thorough washing may not remove all contamination. Remove the outer leaves of leafy vegetables.
5. Everyone, especially children, should wash their hands carefully with soap after using the bathroom. The same is true for everyone changing diapers.