Huron Expositor, 2005-12-07, Page 13News.
Bean sprouts pulled from shelves
in Huron County stores, restaurants
Jennifer Hubbard
Grocery stores and restaurants across Huron County
have pulled bean sprouts off of their shelves in compli-
ance with a Nov 24 advisory from the health unit.
Public health manager Pam Scharfe, of the
Huron County Health Unit, said she is
hoping to hear the results of a province -
wide investigation into a salmonella out-
break later this week.
"Everyone should avoid buying and eat-
ing bean sprouts until we know at the
provincial level what the problem is," she
explained, adding the contaminated
sprouts are thought to have come from one
large processor, which serves 25 per cent of
the Ontario market.
Health units -across Ontario banded
together last week after more than 300
cases of salmonella poisoning were report-
ed and linked to the consumption of `mung'
bean sprouts. Reported cases go as far back
as the beginning of November.
"Usually we see 18-25 cases of salmonel-
la a year and there are hundreds. It's a
province -wide outbreak," Scharfe said.
"Right now they're doing the detective
work to try and trace the sprouts back to find
out whether it was one of the suppliers or the larger
processors."
Four Huron "lab -confirmed cases" are among those
under investigation. Three of those cases purchased
their sprouts from supermarkets within the county.
"The supermarkets aren't at fault," Scharfe stressed.
"They're innocent bystanders in this whole thing and
we're trying to work with them to get this resolved."
Connie Lee, of the China Palace in Clinton, said she
was notified of the health unit advisory last Friday by
phone. And while bean sprouts are a staple ingredient
in many of her restaurant's dishes, changes have been
made with little difficulty.
"If they tell us to pull it out, we pull it out. I just use
mixed vegetables instead," she com-
mented.
"The customers are all very under-
standing. They've heard the news and
The Huron Expositor • December 7, 2005 Page 13
they don't want to eat the bean sprouts anyways. When
they tell us it's okay, we'll start using them again."
Lee said the China Palace does not
purchase its sprouts from the pro-
ducer that is under investigation.
`Everyone
should avoid
buying and
eating bean
sprouts until
we know at
the provincial
level what the
problem is,' --
Pam Scharfe, of the
Huron County
Health Unit
OPP still looking for
Freeze King thieves
Huron OPP
are still looking
for two white
males approxi-
mately 5'10" tall,
in their late
teen's or early
20's in connec-
tion with a
break-in at the
Seaforth Freeze
King.
The break-in,
which happened
Sept. 27, result-
ed in the theft of
$3,000.
The restaurant
owner heard
voices inside the
Freeze King and
saw two men
leaving the
building wearing
dark coloured
pants and hood -
les covering
their faces.
The owner
tried to block the
vehicle but the
culprits man-
aged to avoid the
blockade and
fled the area in a
van.
Anyone with
related informa-
tion is asked to
call Crime
Stoppers.
Advisories encourag-
ing Ontario residents not
to eat bean sprouts until
further notice have also
been issued by the
Ministry of Health and
Long -Term Care. The
Canadian Food
Inspection Agency has
issued a voluntary recall
of the sprouts.
"We know bean
sprouts are an impor-
tant part of these busi-
nesses, but until we
know what happened we
don't want anyone else
to get sick, or even die,"
Scharfe said.
Salmonella is a natu-
rally occurring bacteria
found in the intestines
of animals, particularly
poultry, cattle and swine.
The bacteria can contaminate raw
fruits and vegetables, including
bean sprouts, that have been in con-
tact with unclean water, animal
manure or and infected food handler.
Symptoms usually occur 12 to 36
hours after eating.
Anyone who has consumed bean
sprouts and is experiencing diar-
rhea, fever and/or vomiting should
seek medical attention and report
their illness to the health unit at
(519) 482-3416.
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