Rising Food Poisoning Linked to Brain-Eating Parasite in Salad Bags

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00:00Rising food poisoning linked to brain-eating parasite in salad bags.

00:05In the UK, 16% of tested pre-washed salad bags contained brain-affecting organisms.

00:11This parasite was found in salad bags across Europe, though the UK's contamination rates

00:15were notably higher than other regions.

00:21The study analyzed 3,293 salad bags from 10 European countries, identifying toxoplasma

00:28Gondii in 135 packages.

00:33Contamination rates varied, with 6.1% in France, 4.1% in Spain, and 3.8% in Denmark.

00:40Minimal cases occurred in Norway and the Czech Republic.

00:44These salads, usually consumed without extra washing, underscore the findings' significance.

00:52T-Gondii spores originate from cats, persist in soil and water, and survive washing processes.

00:57In humans, they form permanent cysts in muscles and brain tissue, affecting one-third of people,

01:04potentially altering behavior.

01:06Most healthy adults experience mild symptoms.

01:12Pregnant women without prior exposure risk blindness, hearing loss, or brain damage in

01:16unborn children due to T-Gondii, with severe cases causing miscarriage.

01:22Weakened immune systems, like in cancer patients, face life-threatening complications.

01:27Researchers found 10 particles in 1-ounce salads, tripling infection risk with typical servings.

01:36Ready-to-eat salads, marketed as safe, still-harbored T-Gondii spores, despite standard washing.

01:42Home washing removes some spores, but not all.

01:45Soap and chlorinated water also fall short.

01:48Experts advise extra washing for partial safety, while high-risk groups should avoid raw greens.

01:54European regulations focus more on bacterial than parasite testing.