Raw Sprouts Dangerous To Eat, Says CDC

Many people think of raw sprouts as a healthy food.  Raw sprouts can be  anything but safe.  Several outbreaks have taught us that it is unsafe to eat raw sprouts and is a good idea to cook them. Here are some reasons they are dangerous, according to the CDC,  (Centers for Disease Control). 1. A sprouting seed is friendly to bacteria such as Salmonella or E coli.   The warm, moist conditions in which sprouts are produced make matters   worse.  Bacteria in or on growing sprouts cannot be washed off.   Sprouts have also carried Listeria, which causes a very dangerous infection   for pregnant women and the elderly. 2.  It is not necessary to eat large quantities of sprouts to get sick. They  can be hidden when used as a garnish, on a sandwich or in a salad. 3.  Sprouts were first recognized as a source of food-bourne disease in the  1990's.  Since 1998, more than 30 outbreaks have been reported to the    CDC, due to many different kinds of sprouts, alfalfa, bean, clover  and others.  4.  When the potential dangers of sprouts became known, the US Food  and Drug Administration developed guidance for growers to help reduce   the risks.  So far, no available method has proven completely effective. 5.  People who eat raw sprouts need to know the risks, including people  that grow their own sprouts.  Contamination typically starts with the seeds. Eat healthy but safely!