Column: Dr Barnabas On Food Safety & More
[Opinion column written by Dr Ruanne Barnabas]
As the recent Cyclospora outbreak in the United States shows, foodborne illnesses are a very common issue worldwide. While the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] estimates that roughly one in six Americans develop a foodborne illness each year, the risks are just as relevant in Bermuda.
While Bermuda has thankfully avoided the recent Cyclospora outbreak so far, the island does import around 80 per cent of its food. That means your fresh produce often travels through a long supply chain before it reaches your plate. As a physician, I often remind patients that food safety is not simply about the mistakes that they can make: contamination can occur anywhere from the farm and processing facility to a restaurant or the home.
What foods most need to be washed before cooking?
All fresh fruits and vegetables should be rinsed thoroughly under clean running water, especially produce that will be eaten raw. Leafy greens, berries and fresh herbs deserve particular attention because they can be difficult to clean thoroughly.
People are sometimes surprised to learn that they should also wash foods such as melons and cucumbers before cutting them. Even if you will not eat the rind, the knife can carry organisms from the outside inside. During recent outbreaks of Cyclospora, health authorities have also recommended washing produce even if it is labelled as pre-washed.
What are the biggest risks of not washing produce properly?
Fresh produce can carry bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria, viruses such as norovirus and parasites such as Cyclospora. These infections commonly cause diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, nausea and sometimes fever. Some can cause severe illness or hospitalisation, particularly in older adults, young children, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems.
Washing is very worthwhile, but it is not perfect protection. That is especially important with Cyclospora. This parasite can be difficult to remove from produce and ordinary sanitisers do not reliably kill it.
What is the best way to treat illnesses like Cyclospora?
If someone develops persistent or frequent watery diarrhoea, particularly after a possible exposure, they should contact their primary care physician. They can suggest testing and, if needed, treatment. This can include antibiotics, but people should prioritise replacing fluids electrolytes. Healthy individuals may eventually recover without treatment, but untreated illness can persist for weeks or recur.
What else should consumers keep in mind?
The most important message is that people should absolutely wash fresh produce, but we should not put the entire responsibility for food safety on consumers. Washing reduces risk but it cannot make contaminated food completely safe. Preventing contamination during growing, harvesting, processing and distribution is therefore critical.
- Dr Ruanne Barnabas, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital
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