Table 1.
Selected foodborne outbreaks linked to vegetables
| Year | Implicated vehicle | Aetiology | Number of cases (hospitalization %) | Finding during environmental investigation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Raw clover sprouts | E. coli O121 | 18 (44) | Unsanitary condition |
| 2013 | Ready-to-eat-salad | E. coli O157:H7 | 33 (32) | There were 5 of 10 samples from the surrounding areas of the harvest field that were positive for E. coli O157:H7, but do not match the outbreak strain |
| Fresh produce (salad mix and cilantro) | Cyclospora | 631 (8) | Cyclospora were not detected from environmental samples | |
| Cucumbers | S. Saintpaul | 84 (28) | Investigation is still going on | |
| 2012 | Spinach and spring mix | E. coli O157:H7 | 33 (46) | Source of contamination has not been identified yet |
| Raw clover sprouts | E. coli O26 | 29 (33) | Potentially contaminated seeds | |
| 2011 | Romaine lettuce | E. coli O157:H7 | 60 (67) | Contamination source was not identified |
| Alfalfa and spicy sprouts | S. Enteritidis | 25 (30) | Samples did not yield Salmonella, but observed unsanitary conditions | |
| 2010 | Alfalfa sprouts | Salmonella I 4,(5),12:i:- | 140 (24) | Unsanitary condition, one environmental (water run-off) sample yielded outbreak strain |
| Alfalfa sprouts | S. Newport | 44 (19) | Contaminated seeds | |
| Shredded romaine lettuce | E. coli O145 | 33 (40) | No deficiencies in the producer's good agricultural practices found – O145 outbreak strain was not detected | |
| 2009 | Alfalfa sprouts | S. Saintpaul | 235 (3) | Contaminated seeds |
| 2008 | Raw produce (jalapeño peppers, serrano peppers, tomatoes) | S. Saintpaul | 1442 (20) | Irrigation water |
| 2006 | Tomatoes | S. Typhimurium | 190 (22) | Contamination source was not determined |
| Iceberg lettuce | E. coli O157:H7 | 71 (75) | No identifiable risk factors were observed | |
| Fresh bagged spinach | E. coli O157:H7 | 205 (57) | Samples from faeces of cattle and wild pigs and water at ranch were matched to the outbreak strain |