People have been urged to take care when eating salad and other ready-to eat vegetables amid concerns they could be unsafe. Both the parasite cryptosporidium and the bacteria E. coli have led to food poisoning concerns after being found on foods.
Researchers found cryptosporidium on some ready-to-eat vegetables in supermarkets in Kent while over 250 people have been left sick in an outbreak of E. coli thought to be coming from lettuce. This has led to thousands of sandwiches to be recalled from shops including Aldi, Asda, Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Boots.
According to the Food Standards Agency shoppers should always wash produce such as fruit and vegetables with water before eating to ensure they are clean. It says: "You should wash them under a running tap, or in a bowl of fresh water, making sure to rub their skin under the water.
"We advise that you start with the least soiled items first and give each of them a final rinse. Peeling vegetables can also remove more bacteria, so this is an additional step you can take before eating root vegetables raw."
Cryptosporidium is a highly contagious vomiting bug which also causes diarrhoea. Researchers from the University of Kent examined 36 samples of ready-to-eat vegetables from different supermarkets across Canterbury between May and July 2023.
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While 12 of these did not meet the standards to be included of the remaining 24, 58% tested positive for cryptosporidium. Four - almost one in five of the bags - produced similarities to cryptosporidium parvum which is the leading cause of human cryptosporidiosis.
E. coli is a normally harmless bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals. However it can make some more vulnerable people seriously ill, including the elderly, young children or those with weakened immune systems.
Latest figures for the current outbreak show there have been 256 confirmed patients who had contracted the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 since late May. At least 86 people have been admitted to hospital as a result.
While investigations into the source are ongoing sandwiches have been recalled as a precaution after people fell ill. It is thought lettuce is responsible.
Richard Price, Owner of Brit Superstore, has now explained the way to properly wash lettuce to ensure it is free from bacteria such as E.coli and how to check foods are safe to eat. He said: "It’s incredibly important to wash lettuce thoroughly to prevent ingestion of harmful bacteria from the soil that can contaminate fruit and vegetables, and lead to foodborne illnesses."
Richard's four steps to washing lettuce
- Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds before handling any produce
- Fill your sink around ⅔ full with cold water and add 3 or 4 tablespoons of baking soda to the cold water
- Submerge the lettuce in the water with baking soda for around 12-15 minutes. Push the head of lettuce down into the water to ensure it is fully submerged.
- Remove the produce from the water and allow it to dry thoroughly before eating. To soak up any moisture, try layering the leaves between tea towels or kitchen roll.
He added: "Whilst you can’t see E.Coli on produce, the best way to prevent contamination is to practice safe food handling on a daily basis. Ensure meat is properly cooked, and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables before eating.”
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