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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Produce Safety and Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #202976
Title: Salmonella infections associated with mung bean sprouts 2000-2002: Epidemiological and environmental investigations

Author
item MOHLE-BOETANI, JANET - CDHS-INF. DISEASE BRANCH
item FARRAR, JEFF - CDHS-FOOD & DRUG BRANCH
item BRADLEY, PAMELA - SAC.CO,DEPT.HEALTH&HUMAN
item Barak Cunningham, Jeri
item MILLER, MARK - PLACER CO. HEALTH SRVS.
item Mandrell, Robert
item MEAD, PAUL - CA. DISEASE CONTROL
item KEENE, WILIAM - OREGON PUBLIC HEALTH SRV
item CUMMINGS, KATE - CDHS-INF. DISEASE BRANCH
item ABBOTT, SHARON - CDHS-MICROBIAL DIS. BRANC

Submitted to: Epidemiology and Infection
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2008
Publication Date: 2/25/2008
Citation: Mohle-Boetani, J., Farrar, J., Bradley, P., Barak Cunningham, J.D., Miller, M., Mandrell, R.E., Mead, P., Keene, W., Cummings, K., Abbott, S. 2008. Salmonella infections associated with mung bean sprouts 2000-2002: Epidemiological and environmental investigations. Epidemiology and Infection (2)1-10

Interpretive Summary: We investigated 7 outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections linked to raw mung bean sprouts in 2000-2002. All outbreaks were due to unusual phage types of SE and occurred in the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands. Page Type 33, from the U.S., was in the spent irrigation water and a drain from one sprout grower. None of the growers disinfected seeds at recommended concentrations. Only two growers tested spent irrigation water; neither discarded the implicated seed lots after receiving a report of Salmonella contamination. We found no difference in the growth of SE and Salmonella Newport on mung beans. Mung bean sprout growers should disinfect seeds, test spent irrigation water, and discontinue the use of implicated seed lots when pathogens are found. Laboratories should report confirmed positive Salmonella results from sprout growers to public health authorities.

Technical Abstract: We investigated 7 outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) infections linked to raw mung bean sprouts in 2000-2002 through case-control and cohort studies. All outbreaks were due to unusual phage types (PT) of SE and occurred in the United States (PT 33, 1, and 913), Canada (PT 11b and 913), and the Netherlands (PT 4b). PT 33 was in the spent irrigation water and a drain from one sprout grower. None of the growers disinfected seeds at recommended concentrations. Only two growers tested spent irrigation water; neither discarded the implicated seed lots after receiving a report of Salmonella contamination. We found no difference in the growth of SE and Salmonella Newport on mung beans. Mung bean sprout growers should disinfect seeds, test spent irrigation water, and discontinue the use of implicated seed lots when pathogens are found. Laboratories should report confirmed positive Salmonella results from sprout growers to public health authorities.