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Finally, an E. coli answer: It was German-grown sprouts

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While sprouts are full of protein and vitamins, their growing conditions and the fact that they are mostly eaten raw make them ideal transmitters of disease. They require 100-degree heat and humidity—precisely the same conditions E. coli needs to thrive. Sprouts have abundant surface area for bacteria to cling to—and washing won’t help if the seeds themselves are contaminated.

As a big fan of brussell sprouts, that last paragraph really sucks.

Taka

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simple detective work trumped science in the hunt

The two should be used in conjuction. Please don't tell me they were not doing the detective work, as in finding out who got sick where first, and were instead relying totally on the DNA or other identity of the E.coli?

But like I said, they should be using both in conjection, because the testing of the specific E.coli will be the best proof of all that they have identified the source.

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Article don't specify here clearly, they are talking Bean-sprouts(aka Moyashi).

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I really don't much about bean sprouts, but I never once considered eating them raw. Anytime I used them, even in a salad, I at least threw them in boiling water for several seconds. I think I might be boiling them even more from now on.

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Iwitness.

Good idea. Articles on both CNN & BBC said they are prone to infections as they are raised in a high Humidity and high Temperature environment that Bacteria like E-Coli love to grow and spread in.

They are now investigating if the seeds were contaminated.

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same like Japanese 'kaiware?' i seldom eat sprouts, i just remember that Japan had blamed kaiware for E-coli outbreak few years ago.

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Ouch! I hope the German government knows how to say "sorry" in Spanish.

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Interviews with thousands of patients—mostly women ages 20 to 50 with healthy lifestyles—led investigators to conclude initially that salads could be the problem.

That must have been a very thorough investigation because it got very very close to the root cause

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As a big fan of brussell sprouts, that last paragraph really sucks.

I'm on the opposite side of this. I've always hated brussel sprouts. Rather nice to know for once that my parents were wrong, and that eating brussel sprouts can actually kill me...

Another little bit of humor in this terrible situation. I note that its not GM foods that kill people, but that organic stuff.

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Another little bit of humor in this terrible situation. I note that its not GM foods that kill people, but that organic stuff.

Ha! Right on point with that. The inflated costs also come with inflated risk. Which is ironic because the reason why people pay the premium prices is to avoid that risk.

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Rather nice to know for once that my parents were wrong, and that eating brussel sprouts can actually kill me...

Your parents were not wrong. Brussels sprouts are a different animal to the sprouts they're talking about here.

Having said that, I have never encouraged my kids to eat brussels sprouts. They're far too difficult to come by in this land, and forcing them onto kids who don't want them means less for me. I love brussels sprouts.

I also like broccoli sprouts on my salads occasionally and kaiware in my avocado temaki sushi. I always wash them well, but in future I'll be washing them extra-well.

the reason why people pay the premium prices is to avoid that risk.

Not the only reason.

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I still say that this superbug only occured because of overuse of antibiotics. There have always been e.coli infections and always will, but usually they are harmless. But with antibiotics everywhere, we now have the super-E.coli which killed these people.

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Taka: I don't think you need to worry, amigo. They seem to be talking about bean sprouts in general, not Brussel sprouts (could be included, but I don't think so).

Anyway, have they lifted the warning on the other vegetables yet? It would be a shame if the farmers are still losing a lot of their livelihood.

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The problem most certainly was not organic farming in general. It was the method by which a certain few vegetables are grown combined with the refusal of people and restaurants to COOK high risk food.

Meanwhile the chemical laden methods still used by most farmers are destroying the eco-system. There actually are worse scenarios than a handful of people among 6 billion dying from E. coli. How about entire cultures wiped out by desertification?

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You people are all wrong. It is not the bacteria, it is the toxins from their excretions. It is a chemical and cooking it does nothing. Look it up. If the bacteria is there in abundance, then you are sunk with this particular e-coli.

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Meanwhile the chemical laden methods still used by most farmers are destroying the eco-system. There actually are worse scenarios than a handful of people among 6 billion dying from E. coli. How about entire cultures wiped out by desertification?

Yes, growing crops causes desertification, organic farming does not... lol

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Molenir, I did not say growing crops was the problem, did I? I said the chemicals most farmers use but organic farmers don't, are destroying the ecosystem. Please, the post was not long or complicated.

It is a chemical and cooking it does nothing. Look it up.

Boy, I have tried and I can't find anything. Everyone says cook the food to prevent an e.coli infection. Nothing about ingesting the toxin being a problem. But surely having an e.coli infection in your intestines, releasing those toxins there, will make you sick.

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