Organic farms have a MUCH higher safety record than the mass produced dead food you most likely eat each day.

To group 1 incident to an entire industry is foolish.

Most chickens you buy in the stores (non organic) have some salmonella in them. Uh oh, now what do you do!!??

Well the last store I worked in sprayed there chicken with Lysol. That was the last chicken for me!

At least it is organic salmonella. Much healthier for you.

People who take immune-suppressing medications (including anti-TNFa, biologics and prednisone) should avoid buying or consuming foods known to carry dangerous bacteria.

If you have had an organ transplant or an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, these guidelines may apply to you, as they do for people on high dose or long term prednisone (steroid) treatments.

Sprouts are on my "NO" list, as are raw or rare meats/fish, unpasterized dairy or eggs, and unwashed produce. Here is an entire list of risky foods:

http://www.seattlecca.org/client/documents/practical-emotional-support%5CHSC-Diet-Immunosuppressed-Patients-032508.pdf

Organic food is just a high priced , quickly rotting , "product" that makes a LOT of money for a lot of BIG corporations, sold to people who should know better.

It kills 2500 people a year.

No preservatives, no antibiotics , mean that organic has MORE bacteria, will grow it more quickly, and has to be handled more carefully.

I'm not a big fan of junk food either, but the organic crowd should realize that they are being taken to the cleaners. There is NO nutritive value differance in the stuff, and it costs 50% + more to buy. Crazy.

Can somebody tell me why food that is "pure" , has LESS processing, less handling, and less or no fertilizer costs twice what the non-organic stuff costs?

Funny you mention that organic food kills people.

I would assume you know that the medical industry kills well over 250,000 per year, right?

You do know that the preservatives causes cancers, right?

You do know that the antibiotics is leading to new superstrains of diseases, right?

You do know that last year there was over 250 MILLION tons of antibiotics used in our food supply, right?

Funny, a drug on tv the other day listed one of the side effects as cancer, but when a few people get sick taking a supplement, the FDA is raiding them.

Welcome to the new, big corporate owned Amerika. Socialist States of...

Instead of bashing organic foods, go do some research and learn what is really going on with your food supply.

Start here... www.naturalnews.com and www.mercola.com

And if you really want to understand GMO foods, go here http://www.responsibletechnology.org/

Organic costs more due to the slower rate at which it grows and the cost to maintain that crop since you don't use pesticides. This adds up to more money to produce but it is WORTH the price considering the cancer causing, nutritionally deficient frankenfoods they are shoving down our throats now.

I am not trying to be belittling, but go and read some articles from places that are NOT big pharma owned or FDA ran. The truth is out there, you just need to understand that the FDA is owned by MONSANTO (true) and most articles you read are produced by big pharma and they have every intention of keeping you sick.

Never trust advice from an industry that makes money off you being sick. This is common sense 101.

You don't ask your broke friends for financial advice and you shouldn't ask big pharma for health advice.

Who in God's name would want to eat alfalfa sprouts ... with or without salmonella?

Patrick- Good points- the government is in bed with industry- or rather CONGRESS is in bed with industry, which leads to corruption.

My problem with the organic food industry ( and that is just what it is...) is that NOW that corporate farming in this country has given us all 3 squares a day, people are starting to complain about their food not being PERFECT, as if anything is. What PERFECT food does is drive the cost up, like you said, which makes it LESS affordable to those who can't pay for it. Ask some starving kid from Zimbabwe if he'd turn down a meal with .0000001% insecticide on it. I don't think so. He'd probably eat the bugs too, for the protein.

Organic food is really nice for those who can afford it, but seeing as the U.S. supplies 85% of the worlds food aid to starving countries, making it MORE expensive, and therefore taking it out of the reach of those who need it, causing them to starve, seems questionable somehow. That's if you care......

The only reason organic survives in this country is because we are well-fed and can afford it.

The whole thing is an off-shoot of the sachrinne of the 70's - you may be too young to remember it. Sachrinne causes cancer, so drinking it in soda will kill you. That's true.

BUT, you have to drink 450 cans a day for 70 years to get a toxic dose. I guess I'll just have to live dangerously with my one or two cans a year...........

Afraid of chemicals? Don't brush your teeth: there is flouride in there. It will kill you.
Yes, it keeps your teeth in your head, but HEY! - you can gum your food for the rest of your life.

DDT was eliminated in the 1970s because it made birds eggs too fragile to allow birds to be borne. Big problem. DDT production stopped. The result of that according to the World Health Organization is that 10,000,000 - 15,000,000 people in third world countries have DIED EVERY YEAR since from insect borne disease because they can't afford more expensive but safe insecticides.

So, yes, it's nice to have birds flying around your organic farm, and they ARE necessary for the ecosystem, but there is a cost to have them. The anti- chemical people always seem to forget that. Out of sight, out of mind.........

Like you said - organic costs more. And that kills people too.

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/i4512i-/

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/i4512i-/122310/index.html

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/i4512i-/122810/index.html

Add your self to email (the author should have said)

Investigation of a Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- Infections Linked to Alfalfa Sprouts, December 28, 2010, Today's Highlights

From November 1 through December 27, approximately 94 illnesses linked to infection with the outbreak strain of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- were reported from 16 states and the District of Columbia.
Preliminary results of the investigation indicate a link to eating Tiny Greens brand Alfalfa Sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a press release advising consumers not to eat Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts (which contain alfalfa sprouts mixed with radish and clover sprouts) from Tiny Greens Organic Farm of Urbana, Illinois. The sprouts were distributed in 4 oz. and 5 lb. containers to various customers, including farmers’ markets, restaurants and groceries, in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, and possibly other Midwestern states.
Consumers should not eat Tiny Greens brand Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts, and restaurant and food service operators should not serve them. Consumers, retailers and others who have Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts should dispose of them in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating them.

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in many states and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:- infections. Investigators are using DNA analysis of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak.

From November 1 through December 27, 2010, 94 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella serotype I 4,[5],12:i:-, whose illnesses began since November 1, have been reported from 16 states and the District of Columbia. The number of ill people identified in each state with the outbreak strain is as follows: California (1), Connecticut (1), District of Columbia (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (51), Indiana (9), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (17), New York (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (3). Among 91 persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from November 1 to December 14, 2010. Case-patients range in age from 1 to 75 years, with a median age of 28. Sixty-one (or 67%) of patients are female. Among persons with available information, 24% reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Because the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern associated with this particular Salmonella serotype commonly occurs in the United States, some of the cases identified may not be related to this outbreak.

The outbreak can be visually described with a chart showing the number of people who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve. Illnesses that occurred after December 7, 2010, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 3 weeks. For more information, please see Salmonella Outbreak Investigations: Timeline for Reporting Cases.

Investigation of the Outbreak
Collaborative investigative efforts of local, state, and federal public health and regulatory agencies have linked this outbreak to consumption of Tiny Greens Organic Farm’s Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts. The sprouts were distributed to Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Missouri, and may also have been distributed to other Midwestern states.

Approximately half of the illnesses occurred in Illinois, where many of the ill individuals ate sandwiches containing sprouts at various Jimmy John’s outlets. Jimmy John’s restaurants have voluntarily suspended serving sprouts at their Illinois franchise locations.

This investigation is ongoing. CDC, FDA, and state and local public health partners are continuing surveillance to identify new cases and trace potentially contaminated products. CDC will continue to update the public on the progress of this investigation as information becomes available.

Clinical Features/Signs and Symptoms
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness from Salmonella infection.

Advice to Consumers, Retailers and Others
Since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E coli. Persons who think they might have become ill from eating potentially contaminated products should consult their health care providers.

Below are additional recommendations:

Consumers should not eat Tiny Greens brand Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts, and restaurant and food service operators should not serve them. Consumers, retailers and others who have Tiny Greens Alfalfa Sprouts or Spicy Sprouts should dispose of them in a closed plastic bag placed in a sealed trash can. This will prevent people or animals from eating them.
Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts).
Cook sprouts thoroughly to reduce the risk of illness. Cooking kills the harmful bacteria.
Request that raw sprouts not be added to your food. If you purchase a sandwich or salad at a restaurant or delicatessen, check to make sure that raw sprouts have not been added.
To learn more about illnesses associated with sprouts, visit Foodsafety.gov.

CDC's Role in Food Safety
As an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC leads federal efforts to gather data on foodborne illnesses, investigate foodborne illnesses and outbreaks, and monitor the effectiveness of prevention and control efforts. CDC is not a food safety regulatory agency but works closely with the food safety regulatory agencies, in particular, with HHS’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CDC also plays a key role in building state and local health department epidemiology, laboratory, and environmental health capacity to support foodborne disease surveillance and outbreak response. Notably, CDC data can be used to help document the effectiveness of regulatory interventions.

Previous Updates
December 23, 2010

/www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=808&z=34
THE EMERGENCY EMAIL & WIRELESS NETWORK
http://www.EmergencyEmail.org
Hope this helps..

>

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised the public not to eat alfalfa sprouts produced by the Tiny Greens Organic Farm in Urbana, Ill., because of possible salmonella contamination. The warning issued Monday evening also includes a mix called spicy sprouts, which contains radish and clover sprouts

It tels 4 States and then also it says the Public and it tells you the Brand name.

also you can look it up also so Don't complane just look it p.

What does it matter which states? What matters is what's causing it, who packages it, what stores sold it, when it was sold, the lot numbers and whether there's a recall of the contaminated lots.

But my real question is: Who the hell eats alfalfa sprouts besides cattle?

Many people eat sprouts. Also it is important to know which states have been affected by this illness so that people can know if it is something they need to watch out for.

With the new inspection and enforcement regulations just signed into law, the FDA will hopefully soon be catching or preventing this from happening so often. That's something that a band of right-wingers who were on the 'Vine complaining about the law might find embarrassing.

"Organic" farmers and small farms are exempted from the law in most cases - but not this one. By virtue of the extent of the food product distribution (and possibly the annual revenues the firm realizes), Tiny's will be included in the new regulatory regime.

An interesting followup to this story would be a report about the sources of salmonella in such products as alfalfa sprouts and whether it can either be prevented, or removed from the food products during processing.

John, the FOOD SAFTEY MODERNIZATION ACT is the beginning of the end for healthy food.

Read what the bill really says and what this means for you here.

http://www.naturalnews.com/030863_food_safety_bill_Codex_Alimentarius.html

Agreed.

MSNBC = Pathetic

It's amazing after each horrifically done, and poorly researched or documented article... having been proven a sham organization so many times, that they continue in the same vein.

You'd think that someone at the top would begin to notice: "Hey, there are other news sources out there making us look like utter fools - hell, even our readers are correcting our 'facts', spelling, and sentence structure... not to mention bitching about our misleading article titles.."

But nope - they just continue on, utterly oblivious to the concept of Journalistic Integrity. I don't get it.

I don't think I ever will.

Mr. Miller - I did a recheck for more information on this topic at the CDC and FDA sites this morning. Neither of them have readily accessible updates.

CNN: minimal alfalfa sprout info, but they focus on another current salmonella outbreak - this time in parsley - that MSNBC, FDA, and CDC don't do:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/29/salmonella.produce/index.html?hpt=Sbin

Fox News online provided easily found information about alfalfa sprouts/salmonella yesterday. Please read the link I gave in #4. I find it interesting that the liberal media keeps this information hidden.

Are you a bassist? Pianist here. FR sent.

Sorry --- add cilantro to that parsley list.

NJ Person, thanks for the info!

I've read information in the past about the dangers of catching food poisoning by eating raw sprouts. Raw sprouts should be taken off of the market for all restaurants and grocery stores. It is a health hazard. Not at all surprised by this news story.

It can be prevented if the people who are growing the sprouts take the correct safety precautions and test the sprouts like they are supposed to. There is no reason for them to be taken off the shelves. There are so many other foods that are more dangerous.

Cook your veggies.......

Right on! Since Man tamed fire, there is no excuse for getting salmonella poisoning, or trichinosis, or any of a number of other food borne illnesses. Cook your food. It is as simple as that.

Many foods such as the vegitables used in salads are often not cooked; lettuce, carrots, cucumbers,etc. These should have an effective testing system to ensure that bacteria such as this cannot get to the consumer.

you don't normally cook garden salads.

but i find if you PEEL the sprouts it helps !!!!!!

"Organic" is just another clever marketing gimmick for sheeple.

Funny, I was thinking the opposite Dr Noo.

Do some research on what you are eating and how much healthier the chemical, Genetically modified food you are eating is over organic food. After reading an article like that, leave the FDA / big pharma site and go to a website that will tell you the truth.

Sheeple.... funny term and with all the crap you eat every day, it may soon be a reality.

Im sure your tune would change if it was you or a member of your family.

I once had salmonella as a teenager. It was far more than a case of the drizzlin' xxxx's. I was sicker than a dog for at least 36 hours. This stuff hits people in different degrees. It can depend on one's immune system.

I have worked in restaurants for years. Salmonella has always been one of the major sources of food poisoning that restaurant workers are warned about in their sanitation training. It is right up there with staph, shigella, E. coli and perfringens. The only thing that is significantly more dangerous than any of these is botulism. Salmonella is not something to be taken lightly.

Incidentally, H1N1 also started out small in this country.

There are 300 million people in this country. Thousands of people die every day. If you figure that these 94 deaths happened over the course of weeks, this is a fraction of a percent of the people that died during that time.

Sure, people should not be dieing from food-borne illnesses, but they should not be dieing from cigarretes either. Even as far as preventable deaths are concerned, I am pretty sure salmonella poisoning amounts to a fraction of a percent of that as well.

Besides, the majority of people that consume salmonella have no symptons, just like the flu. Yet our goverment and the media constantly try and stir up panic about both.

Slow news day.

mike - I posted the same in #4. Fox had an article listing the states while MSNBC, FDA, and the CDC couldn't be bothered to inform us.

NJ

If you got it from Fox then it has to be wrong. :) that's what I read here on the vine. Oh BTW I believe it is spelled Faux. I keep looking on my cable channels but I don't get that one.

Mary,

since the FDA didn't do their job the obvious answer is to give them more money so they can have more power so they can not do their job even better and at a higher cost. They thank you for your taxes and would like to ask you for a raise.

Mary, I'm sorry you feel this way, but no inspector has the ability to see these bacteria with their eyes. The fact that they isolated this incident to a certain food and location shows that they are in fact doing their job. While you can't prevent all incidents, you can shut the places down that do their business in unsanitary ways.

Salmonella sucks, I've had it, and it wasn't a pleasant way to end one of my collegiate years at a time when the weather was finally getting warmer. The fact that these incidents aren't happening very often shows that they are indeed being prevented, and one rogue farm does not mean that the FDA isn't doing it's job.

That would be on the level of the fox guarding the hen house.

Especially because the FDA was the one to issue the warning. If they were "shutting their mouths and looking the other way", wouldn't you expect them to be the last one to say something about it? And if the FDA were dismantled, you'd have a LOT more incidents like this, as there would be no oversight or inspections of these farms. Talk about ignorant!

Yes, bureaucrats never take payoffs or go to work for those that they regulate after they retire. That never happens. Always believe what you are told by the government.

If the FDA is so on the ball, why didn't they publish a list of states where the tainted products shipped to along with the alert? On Tuesday, I searched the CDC website and couldn't find anything more than the vague article we got here on MSNBC. An alert Newsviner posted a CDC link to a map I think yesterday. I found a more complete article on Fox News that listed the states 2 days ago.

By the way .... folks who eat parsley (curly and flat) as well as cilantro should be aware that the CDC has a salmonella alert for them as well. MSNBC and FDA .... silence, as usual.

I agree, just because it is gown, it does not make it real/organic or good for you because it is man made or altered.

They allow a percentage of fake/gmo to be called organic because they know 100% natural is better then the crap they love to call frankenfoods they are passing off on dumbed down followers.

Oh yeah, the plan is the food modernization act. Like I said they already have a way to zombify you with their choice in codex alimentarious frankenfoods. ( I would like to see the net neutrality model pitted against this post)