News
12.05.2023 - Foods
Salads from pre-packaged meals often contaminated with disease-causing germs such as presumptive Bacillus cereus, STEC/VTEC or L. monocytogenes
As part of the official zoonosis monitoring, the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) examined over 400 samples of lamb's lettuce, arugula, and loose-leaf lettuce in ready-made packages in 2021. Presumptive Bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning at high germ counts, were detected in almost every second sample. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC/VTEC) and Listeria such as L. monocytogenes were detected less frequently - germs that can also cause dangerous diseases.
Since pre-cut and packaged salads provide optimal growth conditions for (pathogenic) germs, the BVL advises sensitive consumer groups to prepare salads from fresh and thoroughly washed ingredients themselves.
In our Tentamus laboratories, we regularly conduct tests for presumptive Bacillus cereus, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC/VTEC), and Listeria monocytogenes. We provide you with fast and reliable results.
Our customer advisors are available to answer any questions you may have.
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