Fruits and vegetables can also trigger food borne illness.
March 04, 2023 01:11 am
According to the World Health Organization, more than 200 diseases are caused by the consumption of food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals. These conditions are considered a serious public health problem, for worrying figures.
“The global food crisis threatens health and endangers all lives: infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic conditions are the most vulnerable. Diarrheal diseases affect some 220 million children, 96,000 of whom end up dying”, explains the World Health Organization.
Microbes can contaminate food, especially green leafy vegetables, at different points throughout the food production and distribution chain. “For example, microbes in animal feces can find their way into irrigation water or fields where vegetables are grown. Microbes also spread to leafy greens in facilities where they were packaged and processed, in trucks used to transport them, by unwashed hands, and in the kitchen” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CDC).
The United States Food and Drug Administration emphasizes the importance of knowing how to properly wash food. There are those who “don’t know that fruits and vegetables can also cause outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.”
That’s why the CDC provides instructions on how to properly wash lettuce and other leafy greens. Although research shows that washing with water is a great option, no method really kills all microbes. If raw green leafy vegetables are to be eaten, this recommendation should be taken into account;
Mostly bacteria in food
Food-borne illnesses are usually infectious or toxic. In addition to being caused by parasites or viruses, they can also be caused by bacteria that enter the body through contaminated food or water.
CSA The CSA Health website mentions the most common bacteria in food:
Salmonella: raw eggs and their derivatives such as mayonnaise, cheese. It is also usually used in raw or cooked chicken, such as chicken.
Campylobacter: the main food in which it can be transmitted is chicken meat, raw fish (which has not undergone a cold process before) and unpasteurized milk.
Escherichia coli: This bacteria can be found in contaminated and raw or cooked water.
Listeria monocytogenes: Can be found in soft cheeses, raw milk, and smoked or preserved fruits.
With information from: Week
