Do you eat this stuff?

[Jeni]

the supply chain is long and many hands and surfaces where items can get infected.....
can be hygiene on farm . or processing and packaging ... for restaurants could be bad before the minimum wage staff got a hold of it.
There have been many warnings or recalls after only a handful of cases of illness they "suspect " is from lettuce or tomatoes etc
but in other items like faulty products or medications many need to die before the" it could be other things " mantra subsides and items pulled from market.

 

[Jules]

mentioned specifically lettuce grown in Salinas and New Mexico. The problem was that the farms were too close to cattle ranches. The waste from the cattle went into the water supply that they used to water the crops.

Right. I certainly don’t think the farm workers or anyone along food chain are pristine but to blame them for all the problems isn’t fair.

 

[MikeyDude]

Right. I certainly don’t think the farm workers or anyone along food chain are pristine but to blame them for all the problems isn’t fair.

Is that what I did? I thought I said that the most contaminated produce came from those locals. If there is blame it goes to cattle and how/where they are raised.

 

[oldaunt]

Is that what I did? I thought I said that the most contaminated produce came from those locals. If there is blame it goes to cattle and how/where they are raised.

And having now and then worked in the fields myself with them at times. Mikey is correct. Portapotties at the side of the field, they go between the rows instead of walking to them.

 

[againstthegrain]

Right. I certainly don’t think the farm workers or anyone along food chain are pristine but to blame them for all the problems isn’t fair.

Of course it's not. It's just a convenient scapegoat. Crops grown outdoors are subject to many vectors of disease and perhaps the biggest cause of illness is processing; the chopping, washing, and bagging of lettuce/spinach. To try to pin down one commodity or growing region as higher risk than another is foolish, especially based on just raw numbers w/out accounting for the amount of production in each region or by amount consumed.

For those needing to apply extra caution eating lettuce is best done by buying the whole head, discard or compost the outer leaves, rinse, and eat. Any type of pre-cut from carrots to watermelon is best entirely avoided.

The good news is food safety has been pushed to the forefront of everyone in the produce supply chain and much $$ and effort has been expended over the last 10 years to minimize food borne illness.

Food Safety Act

CDC Foodborne Outbreaks

 

[Jules]

Is that what I did? I thought I said that the most contaminated produce came from those locals. If there is blame it goes to cattle and how/where they are raised.

I was agreeing with you, Mikey.

 

[Bella]

Yes, I eat Romaine, and I thoroughly wash it and all other produce with vegetable spray.

 

[StarSong]

I was agreeing with you, Mikey.

That's how I read your comment, Jules.

 

[MikeyDude]

I was agreeing with you, Mikey.

Oh... My bad.

Most humble apologies.

 

[palides2021]

I used to soak all my vegetables in vinegar/water. I looked up E.Coli after reading these posts, and apparently, vinegar is not strong enough to get rid of E.coli, but a bleach/water solution will do the trick. I do know (having worked in that field) that leukemia patients are discouraged from eating lettuce because of the possibility of the germs, and their immune system is compromised and cannot handle it well if they ate infected greens.

 

[palides2021]

Is that what I did? I thought I said that the most contaminated produce came from those locals. If there is blame it goes to cattle and how/where they are raised.

Also, the water used in the fields could be well water and that water may be contaminated if cattle are in that area (was told this firsthand by a farmer). So it's not just the workers, but other factors.

 

[Warrigal]

In the UK it’s called Cos Lettuce. It is the most nutritious lettuce on the market.
Anything leafy has to be thoroughly washed.

I’ve never had a problem and I eat it every week.

Ah... Now I know what Romaine lettuce is. I often buy baby cos lettuce and just wash it in the usual way in the sink. I don't scrub it. No problem ever.

 

[StarSong]

I eat Romaine, red leaf and green leaf lettuce regularly, plus lots and lots of other fresh produce.

I give it a rinse but can't say I scrub it. Have never had food poisoning that I know of. Certainly nothing that would come close to the dreadful experiences of @hollydolly and @911.

I agree with the comments above mentioning the numerous hands that come in contact with fresh food before it lands on our plates.

Paid sick leave, more bathroom breaks, and better conditions for poorly paid food handlers from farm workers to restaurant employees could solve some of these problems, but that would mean higher prices at the grocery store and/or lower compensation packages for CEOs and other members of the C-suites. Good luck with that.

 

[MikeyDude]

Also, the water used in the fields could be well water and that water may be contaminated if cattle are in that area (was told this firsthand by a farmer). So it's not just the workers, but other factors.

This is exactly what I'm saying. The problem is not the workers, its contamination from the water. If you have a cattle ranch 200 yards from a lettuce farm, they most likely share a water source....


So whats the solution? Do you folks just rely on washing and is that strong enough? Do you avoid getting it from certain retailers? Do you trust the FDA and USDA to make sure it's safe?

For those in other places - USDA handles meat products and FDA handles everything else. They DO NOT work together.

I'm asking seriously because as I stated, I have a weakened immune system and we eat salads every night. I'm not scared of dying but I don't wanna poop myself to death... lol.

 

[againstthegrain]

I think the USDA and FDA, and the laws and regulations only provide a framework for the industry to operate under. Food safety can only be controlled by the industry and the operators themselves. Yes, those agencies REACT to and trace foodborne illness outbreaks and they probably offer some minimal facility inspections, but it's up to the operators to do the job properly to maintain food safety.

As always humans will make mistakes, and will be greedy and lazy so no system will ever be totally free of foodborne disease. I think the food supply in the US is very safe and reliable, especially the produce side.......meat is probably a bit more sketchy as it's a much more concentrated industry, especially the processing.

 

[Magna-Carta]

the supply chain is long and many hands and surfaces where items can get infected.....
can be hygiene on farm . or processing and packaging ... for restaurants could be bad before the minimum wage staff got a hold of it.
There have been many warnings or recalls after only a handful of cases of illness they "suspect " is from lettuce or tomatoes etc
but in other items like faulty products or medications many need to die before the" it could be other things " mantra subsides and items pulled from market.

I think this is the main reason US produced eggs are banned in Europe. It's my understanding they go through significantly more processes than they do in Europe including the UK. More processes can mean more opportunities to go wrong, even if those processes are cleaning processes of some kind.

The European thinking seems to be to keep it simple.

 

[Jamala]

This is exactly what I'm saying. The problem is not the workers, its contamination from the water. If you have a cattle ranch 200 yards from a lettuce farm, they most likely share a water source....


So whats the solution? Do you folks just rely on washing and is that strong enough? Do you avoid getting it from certain retailers? Do you trust the FDA and USDA to make sure it's safe?

For those in other places - USDA handles meat products and FDA handles everything else. They DO NOT work together.

I'm asking seriously because as I stated, I have a weakened immune system and we eat salads every night. I'm not scared of dying but I don't wanna poop myself to death... lol.

Mikey..
soak your leafy greens in a clean bowl of water,
add a teaspoon of vinegar...
leave for 10 minutes...
discard the water and rinse.
then you are good to go.

 

[Della]

^^^They should have been reported for serving such a dish as "Prawns in a Baked Potato."

Sorry you fell ill, though.

LOL While my husband and I lived in England for three years, one of our favorites was Sturdy's Castle, which specialized in baked potatoes covered in what Americans would call very unlikely foods. I think can't remember what kind of potato I would order, but I'll never forget the Christmas pudding (served all year) covered in Devonshire sauce. To die for.