Salad is healthy? But it should be washed thoroughly – because salads can contain sewage water germs such as salmonella, listeria, etc.
Raw food is the trend. Fruit and vegetables are consumed as freshly as possible so that all vitamins are preserved. A salad is just right, right? If it weren't for the abdominal pain afterwards. Because if you are not careful with the preparation, you will get a few sewage germs for free.
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment is now warning of pathogens on raw fruits and vegetables. Because in Germany plants are now to be irrigated with treated wastewater. And that can contain germs like Salmonella, Listeria or E-Coli bacteria.
Salmonella, Listeria & Co. dangerous for certain people
For most healthy people, such germs are largely harmless. Diarrheal diseases can occur, for example, but heal within a few days. However, the situation is different for immunocompromised people, pregnant women or even seniors: Here, the pathogens can cause kidney failure or meningitis in addition to severe diarrhea.
Listeria in particular are therefore always in discussion: The bacteria can lead to flu-like symptoms such as fever and diarrhea, but can also spread to the body and cause inflammation there. Pregnant women are particularly at risk, as they can cope with listeriosis well, but they can pass on to the unborn child and, at worst, can be fatal.
In southern Europe, it is already common to pour fields with treated water from sewage treatment plants. In Germany, too, farmers are expected to use this technology due to drought. And so the lettuce moves from the field to the supermarket and, for many people, directly onto the plate – because contamination with germs is invisible.
How do I protect myself from sewage water germs in the salad?
Even if fruit and vegetables appear superficially clean and no dirt is visible, they should always be washed. The problem here: "However, a complete removal of possibly existing pathogens is not possible," warns the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. The only safe way to eat "ground-level" vegetables is to peel or blanch the food.
So how can I safely eat my salad in the future? So far, the risk in Germany has been classified as "low". Nevertheless, the Federal Institute points out that it does not use ready-made salad mixes (especially as part of the risk group) and prefers to prepare salads itself. The ingredients should be washed thoroughly several times under drinking water.
Sources used: Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, test.de