Sprouting Safety – Preventing e.coli and Salmonella in your Bean & Seed Sprouts

Bean Sprouts source of E.coli?

We still don’t know for sure what caused the deadly e.coli outbreak that resulted in over 30 deaths in Germany recently, but the most recent evidence is pointing at the sprouts from a German farm. Officials are still warning people not to eat sprouts.

All information in this article is for educational purposes only.
It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

The University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources research on bacteria and sprouts shows that any contamination in the sprout is likely to come from the seed itself:

‘For most outbreaks, the source of contamination appears to have been the seed. Even if the seed is contaminated, pathogen levels are typically very low, so contamination can easily be missed depending on the nature of the seed-testing program. The best conditions for sprouting are also ideal for multiplication of pathogenic bacteria if they happen to be present on the seed. Even if the seed are only lightly contaminated, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 levels can increase to millions of cells per serving during the sprouting process.’

Give loving intention to your sprouts too!

My advice: Buy organic seeds and beans and make your own sprouts at home, using 100% cotton sprout bags. The bags reduce the risk of molds and bacteria because there is no standing water as there can be in jars and trays. When you buy organic seeds, you know you are getting the best, and don’t you deserve the very best quality of foods? Yes!

The benefits of eating sprouts is that they are a live food full of enzyme power and are a great source of protein for the body.

Fresh Lentil & Mung Bean Sprouts

Don’t be afraid to eat sprouts as a result of the e.coli outbreak in Germany; instead just be aware of a better choice which is to make your own sprouts at home.

You can sprout alfalfa, mung beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and more . Bringing variety into your diet is a great way to increase your natural mineral reserve!

I personally prefer the cotton bags over nylon bags for spouting because the cotton is more natural and can keep the sprouts just moist enough to grow without any extra or standing water for bad bacterias. The air flow through the bags is also perfect for preventing mold.

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Jennifer Betesh has been working with raw food, juices, smoothies and detox for over two decades to help people heal. Today, she shares her expertise worldwide, offering lectures, workshops, training and one-on-one consultations at various health and detox retreat centers. She provides Iridology Readings & Health Coaching via Skype and Phone to clients and continues to educate, motivate and inspire others on their journey of healing. When she’s not working, you’ll find her hiking in the mountains, power-walking along the sea or globe-trotting to a new and exotic health destination.
7 replies
  1. Bolo
    Bolo says:

    Dear Jennifer,
    Im very concerned about bacteria, so i have a question: Do sprouts become useless once i completely boiled/cooked them?. I really want to try them but i also want to be safe. Thank you in advance!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Thompson
      Jennifer Thompson says:

      Dear Bolo,

      The enzymes in the sprouts will be destroyed if boiled however the nutrients (vitamins and minerals) remain intact.

      Have you thought about growing your own sprouts? It’s actually very easy. You can use 100% certified organic seeds or beans. And you can eat them fresh as can be, with no transport or spoilage to worry about. It’s cheaper too!

      My best,

      To your health,

      Jennifer

      Reply
  2. Jesus
    Jesus says:

    So I just started sprouting broccoli sprouts using mason jars. Everything went well however there is a slight odor from the jars probably because of the water and humidity. Is This normal?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Thompson
      Jennifer Thompson says:

      Dear Jesus,

      In using jars you do have more risk for mold since there is not enough air flow getting to the sprouts. That’s why I use cotton sprout bags. Even when I lived in a very humid environment I never had mold on my sprouts. I have some available for sale still on my store, but it’s the last batch I made for production…so they may not be in stock for much longer. You may want to give them a go!

      All the best in health,

      Jennifer

      Reply
  3. Marissa
    Marissa says:

    Thanks for the tip!
    I gave up on sprouting because I really dislike the sprouting jar method. Do you have a retailer you would recommend for the cotton sprouting bags?

    Reply

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