The recent recall on romaine lettuce and the outbreak of the bacterium E. coli O157:H7 should mark the start of St Maarten’s journey to revitalize, prioritize and safeguard the agricultural sector of the Country. As St Maarten Imports roughy 100% of its consumers products, should we not ask ourselves if we are literally putting ourselves at risk and open to what ever is out there?
You can read what was published by the Daily Herald here on our current Status with the Romain Lettuce Recall issued by the CDC. CDC currently as of Dec 6, 2018 still recommends us not to eat any romaine lettuce at all.
Over the past few years its great to know that more and more community members are willing to select a better and much more healthier choice for organic produce if giving the opportunity of understand more about the surrounding environment, how the food is grown and processed . This does not exclude the fact that the bacterium E. coli O157:H7 can also contaminate organic produce based on research done by Beuchat, L.R. and J. Ryu. in 1997 focused on Produce Handling and Processing Practices. Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The reality is we can only understand and try to control at best the way our food is grown , processed and packaged if we are able to oversee this process happening in our own country.
The point of contamination can range from the growing to packaging process making harder to understand where the point of contamination may have started. Their are many strains of E. Coli some the even the body produced to help with he body and its acid productivity. But this particular strain of E. coli is a main concern because of its hardiness and the severe consequences of infection and damage it may cause to the kidneys.
To understand a bit more about the bacteria, I wanted to share this context from colostate.edu where the covered a bit more in debt about the origins of the bacteria.
‘’Many pathogens cause problems with fresh produce. E. coli O157:H7, however, is of particular concern because only a few cells are needed to cause illness. The illness can progress quickly to cause severe consequences in susceptible people, particularly young children and the elderly. Also, E. coli O157:H7 is quite hardy. It can survive for extended periods in water and soil, under frozen and refrigerated temperatures, and in dry conditions. It also can adapt to acidic conditions. The organism is destroyed by thorough cooking or pasteurization.
The first recognized outbreaks of illness caused by E. coli O157:H7 occurred in 1982. Undercooked hamburger meat was identified as the carrier. While ground beef remains an important cause of outbreaks, many other foods also are carriers. E. coli O157:H7 infections have been associated with raw milk, lettuce, untreated water, ground beef, unpasteurized apple juice and cider, deer jerky, produce from manure-fertilized gardens, yogurt, and radish, clover and alfalfa sprouts.
Root crops and leafy vegetables have the greatest risk of infection from manure application to soil. They can also become contaminated through direct or indirect contact with cattle, deer and sheep. E. coli O157:H7 is most prevalent in ruminants in general and in cattle in particular (both beef and dairy). Other known carriers include birds, insects and squirrels. While the bacteria do not appear to make these animals sick, the animals carry and shed the bacteria in their feces. Drinking and recreational water have been carriers in several outbreaks, most likely from fecal contamination by infected animals or people.’’
Understanding this and knowing that contamination can be breached at any point if not grown , monitored, processed and packaged with the caution applied, can only lead to allowing ourselves to be venerable to what we import from the outside world. Thus going back to the fact that having a sustainable and functional agricultural center that may be able to set the right standard, conduct proper inspections towards cultivating quantity along with quality produce, can only be a win for country St Maarten and the health of its people.
‘’One thing for sure I know for sure is we Caribbean people are real strong, because we been eating cultivated food all these years grown with pure cow S#!t and most of us never get sick yet !” Wyatte
Food for thought ain’t it ?
ECO – St Maarten
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