This selected list demonstrates that raw produce is capable of causing a wide range of food-borne illnesses These disease outbreaks are not common or a cause for great concern, but they mean that produce should be prepared carefully, and ideally should be cooked for people with weak immune systems — the very young and very old and people suffering from other illnesses Microbe Food Clostridium botulinum Garlic in oil E Salad bars, alfalfa and radish sprouts, coli melons, apple juice Listeria Cabbage (long cold storage) Salad bars, alfalfa sprouts, Salmonella orange juice, melons, tomatoes Shigella Parsley, lettuce Staphylococcus Prepared salads Vibrio Fruits and vegetables cholerae contaminated by water Yersinia Sprouts contaminated by water Cyclospora (protozoa) Berries, lettuce Hepatitis viruses Strawberries, scallions The prudent consumer will thoroughly wash all produce, including fruits whose skins will be discarded (knives and fingers can introduce surface bacteria to the flesh) Soapy water and commercial produce washes are more effective than water alone Washing can reduce microbial populations a hundredfold, but it’s impossible to eliminate all microbes from uncooked lettuce and other produce — they can evade even heavily chlorinated water by hiding in microscopic pores and cracks in the plant tissue Raw salads are therefore not advised for people who are especially vulnerable to infections Once fruits and vegetables have been cut up, they should be kept refrigerated and used as soon as possible ... Fruits and vegetables cholerae contaminated by water Yersinia Sprouts contaminated by water Cyclospora (protozoa) Berries, lettuce Hepatitis viruses Strawberries, scallions The prudent consumer will thoroughly... will be discarded (knives and fingers can introduce surface bacteria to the flesh) Soapy water and commercial produce washes are more effective than water alone Washing can reduce microbial populations a hundredfold,... but it’s impossible to eliminate all microbes from uncooked lettuce and other produce — they can evade even heavily chlorinated water by hiding in microscopic pores and cracks in the plant tissue Raw salads are therefore not advised for people who are especially