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3-10-2004 Food Poisoning Traced to Deer-Soiled Lettuce
Finland - Health authorities in Finland are blaming contaminated lettuce for an outbreak of infections caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis bacteria -- the first time an outbreak of the bug has been traced back to a specific food.
The Finnish outbreak sickened at least 47 people nationwide in October 1998, prompting a long-term investigation by public health authorities that ultimately pinpointed the source as iceberg lettuce from a single farm.
The researchers also discovered "large quantities" of deer feces around the lettuce fields and irrigation-water sources, which were unfenced.
Lettuce, according to the Finnish researchers, may be a particularly good "vehicle" for bacteria because it has a large surface area, can be difficult to clean and is almost always eaten raw.
Finland - Health authorities in Finland are blaming contaminated lettuce for an outbreak of infections caused by Yersinia pseudotuberculosis bacteria -- the first time an outbreak of the bug has been traced back to a specific food.
The Finnish outbreak sickened at least 47 people nationwide in October 1998, prompting a long-term investigation by public health authorities that ultimately pinpointed the source as iceberg lettuce from a single farm.
The researchers also discovered "large quantities" of deer feces around the lettuce fields and irrigation-water sources, which were unfenced.
Lettuce, according to the Finnish researchers, may be a particularly good "vehicle" for bacteria because it has a large surface area, can be difficult to clean and is almost always eaten raw.
