Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables – But Clean Them First

Since July 31, more than 70 people in 18 states have become infected with listeriosis, a food-borne illness caused by bacteria found in soil, water and animal feces.  Thirteen of those infected have died. The outbreak resulted from the consumption of cantaloupes grown at Jensen Farms in Granada, CO, which have since been recalled.

But how do bacteria penetrate the tough skin of a cantaloupe? 

They don’t – the knife does, said Linda Seffens, director of Food and Nutrition Services at . 

“People don’t think about washing the outside of a cantaloupe or any other hard-skinned melon,” Seffens said. “But, unless the melon rind is thoroughly washed before paring, the knife will pick up the bacteria on the rind and transfer it to the fruit itself. Listeria bacteria can survive refrigeration and even freezing, so it continues to grow on the melon leftovers.”

Aside from raw fruits and vegetables, which often are contaminated by animal manure used as a fertilizer, listeriosis may be caused by infected meat, unpasteurized milk or foods (like cheeses) made with unpasteurized milk and processed meats and meat spreads. Cook foods thoroughly to make sure your meat, poultry and egg dishes are cooked to a safe temperature, Seffens said.

While healthy people rarely become ill from listeria infection, it can be fatal to babies and people with weakened immune systems and prompt antibiotic treatment is required.

Symptoms of a listeria infection – which include fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea – may appear as soon as a few days after you’ve eaten contaminated food or as long as two months later. If you begin to exhibit these symptoms, contact your doctor. 

If the infection spreads to your nervous system, you may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion or changes in alertness, loss of balance and convulsions. These symptoms may indicate bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening complication of listeria, which requires immediate emergency care. 

“We all know we should eat a hefty helping of fruits and vegetables every day, because they provide nutritious benefits to our bodies, at little caloric cost,” Seffens said.  “And everyone from the FDA to the school dietitian to your mother has repeated the same mantra: ‘Eat your fruits and vegetables.’  The advice still stands – eat them, but clean them first.  When handling any raw fruits and vegetables, scrub your hands, scrub your utensils, and scrub the raw food itself.  Don’t take a chance on contamination.”

A Few Fast Facts About Food Contamination

• 48 million people are sickened by food contaminated with harmful germs each year.
• Fresh produce can become contaminated in many ways.  During the growing phase, after produce is harvested, after the produce has been purchased, during food preparation, or through inadequate storage.
• When preparing any fresh produce, begin with clean hands.  Wash your hands for 20 seconds with warm water and soap before and after preparation
• Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water.  There’s no need to use soap or a produce wash.
• Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on produce before preparing.
• Wash fruits and vegetables under running water just before eating, cutting or cooking.
• If you plan to peel the produce before eating, it is still important to wash it first.
• Scrub firm produce, such as melons, with a clean produce brush.
• Drying produce with a clean cloth towel or paper towel may further reduce bacteria that may be present.
• Keep fruits and vegetables that will be eaten raw separate from other foods such as raw meat, poultry or seafood – and from kitchen utensils used for those products.
• Throw away the outermost leaves of a head of lettuce or cabbage.
• Discard any product that has passed its use-by or expiration date. 

Submitted by Mary Jo Wich, St. Anthony's Medical Center