Outbreaks attributed to fresh leafy vegetables, United States, 1973–2012

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Epidemiol Infect
• Personal Author:
  HERMAN, K. M. ; HALL, A. J. ; GOULD, L. H.
• Description:
  Leafy vegetables are an essential component of a healthy diet; however, they have been associated with high-profile outbreaks causing severe illnesses. We reviewed leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1973 and 2012. During the study period, 606 leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks, with 20 003 associated illnesses, 1030 hospitalizations, and 19 deaths were reported. On average, leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks were larger than those attributed to other food types. The pathogens that most often caused leafy vegetable-associated outbreaks were norovirus (55% of outbreaks with confirmed aetiology), Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (18%), and Salmonella (11%). Most outbreaks were attributed to food prepared in a restaurant or catering facility (85%). An ill food worker was implicated as the source of contamination in 31% of outbreaks. Efforts by local, state, and federal agencies to control leafy vegetable contamination and outbreaks should span from the point of harvest to the point of preparation.
• Subjects:
  Animals Article Bacteria Bacterial Infections Disease Outbreaks Foodborne Diseases Gastroenteritis Humans Parasites Protozoan Infections Vegetables Virus Diseases Viruses

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• Source:
  Epidemiol Infect. 143(14):3011-3021.
• Pubmed ID:
  25697407
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC4591532
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  United States
• Volume:
  143
• Issue:
  14
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:8fb067f90a37c5c5cc6d030f3a2a2f32d1135658e32dd81db41bf061ee624694
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/37518/cdc_37518_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 677.43 KB ]