ANOTHER CASE OF CONTAMINATED ALFALFA

Of all the foods you should maybe give up, surely alfalfa sprouts (or other sprouted seeds) are one of the easiest. (I would have a much harder time giving up chocolate, for instance). Yes, when they are not contaminated with disease-causing bacteria, they may be nutritionally beneficial. But the trouble is, that the downside may well outweigh such benefits.

Here's yet another recall of alfalfa sprouts. Leasa Industries Co., Inc. of Miami, Florida, is recalling 433 cases of LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts with use by date 7/2/12, because Salmonella bacteria have been found. The affected product is in 6 oz. clear plastic containers. Winn Dixie is among the stores that sells them.

And in case you think Salmonella just means a few miserable days of diarrhea and vomiting, stomach cramps and such, let me quote from the recall notice (more details on this in The Safe Food Handbook):

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.... In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.


To your good health,
TSF

ONE MORE ALFALFA RECALL

I think we have to get over the idea that alfalfa and other sprouted seeds are "super healthy." In my opinion, the risks of getting dangerous bacteria from eating them outweigh such benefits.

Eat alfalfa and it can cure you of anything and everything. At least that is what the claims are - high cholesterol, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, asthma, problems of menopause, alcholism...and much more. I am not arguing against the nutritional benefits of sprouts, but certainly some of the healing claims are highly exaggerated, without scientific evidence to back them up.

And instead you have considerable risk of ingesting a dangerous bacteria like one of the Salmonella, the more deadly E.coli or Listeria monocytogenes and coming down with food poisoning.

So here's yet another recall of alfalfa sprouts. LEASA Industries Co., Inc. of Miami, FL is recalling 346 cases of LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts with use by date 2/1/12 (too late as usual) because of possible contamination by Salmonella bacteria. Clear plastic containers of these sprouts were distributed in the U.S. through FL, GA, AL, LA, and MS through retail stores and food service companies.

There are plenty of other healthy foods you can eat that are far less likely to be contaminated than raw alfalfa sprouts - and taste better.

To your good health,

TSF