Health Canada encourages safe sprout consumption

Raw and undercooked sprouts can present serious health issues if consumed by young children, older adults, pregnant women or those with weakened immune systems, warns Health Canada.

Sprouts are often a popular choice for those on low-calorie healthy diets — however, they must be properly prepared to avoid consuming harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. coli.

“Fresh produce can sometimes be contaminated with harmful bacteria while in the field, during growing or harvesting, or during storage and handling,” a media release from Health Canada stated. “This is of particular concern with sprouts.”

In order to avoid any nasty repercussions, Health Canada suggests only buying sprouts that are crisp and have been refrigerated at or below four degrees Celsius.

Sprouts that are dark in colour or smell musty should also be avoided. For more information on safe sprout consumption, visit http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/kitchen-cuisine/sprouts-germes-eng.php.

Posted by Arron Pickard