Healthy eating is becoming a rising trend in American society.
Capturing big names like Michelle Obama in her
“Let’s Move
” initiative, the
USDA
has proven that Americans are choosing healthier, fresher foods, but is there more to look out for?

With Salmonella and E. coli on the American radar since the outbreaks in
2006
, households may have to be especially careful with the holidays. Buying healthy food is a positive move, but pairing that with educated moves can help consumers win the game all year long.

Rosalee S. Hellberg Ph.D,
along with Chapman University’s
Food Science Program
and affiliates at
University of Washington
have
published a study
finding that Salmonella and E. coli may be in your favorite cooking herbs through your local farmers’ market.



Market of Fruit




Visiting 49 vendors at 13 farmers markets across California in the Los Angeles and OC areas, as well as Seattle, Wash., 133 samples were collected and tested for the dangerous bacteria. Popular Christmas dinner herbs cilantro, basil, and parsley were tested, and the results were astounding.

“While farmers’ markets can become certified to ensure that each farmer is actually growing the commodities being sold, food safety is not addressed as part of the certification process,” said Rosalee Hellberg, Ph.D., and co-author on the study. “Certain herbs such as parsley, basil and cilantro have been implicated in many food outbreaks over the past two decades so our study focused specifically on the safety and quality of these three herbs.”


 

Of the 133 samples, the Public Health Laboratory Service guidelines prove 16 of those samples had unsatisfactory E. coli counts, unhealthy for human consumption. In addition to this, 15 samples proved to having “suspicious” growths. One sample from an LA county market testing positive for Salmonella.

Of the three locations tested, Orange County farmers’ markets lead the pavement in the highest percentage of samples with E. coli, with the greater Seattle area coming in second and LA county as third.

With this knowledge, it may be wise for consumers to be extra cautious during the holiday shopping season. Symptoms of both Salmonella and E. coli include diarrhea and abdominal cramps, with Salmonella causing fever up to 72 hours after consumption and E. coli with discharge of blood and vomiting.

Seek the attention of medical professionals should any of these symptoms persist. Consumers should proceed with caution when shopping, with the hopes of safe holiday meals this Christmas Season.

 

Research published in the 
­­Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture