Say no to sprouts - Extra Nutrition - dietary warnings about alfalfa sprouts - Brief Article

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, June, 2002

Sure, you'll find raw alfalfa sprouts in the grocery-store produce section, where most fitness enthusiasts shop with abandon, but think twice about popping them in your basket. Federal health officials have renewed warnings about the alfalfa sprouts often served raw on sandwiches and salads, saying they can be contaminated with salmonella or E.

coli bacteria. The sprouts should be thoroughly cooked to kill the bacteria, and people at higher risk for sickness -- children, the elderly and the chronically ill -- should avoid them altogether, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.