Prepared salads and public health.

Between 1992 and 2006, 2274 foodborne outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease were reported in England and Wales, of which 4% were associated with the consumption of prepared salads. In total, 3434 people were affected, with 66 hospitalisations and one death reported. Findings from UK studies on salad vegetables, fruit and mixed salads from 1995 to 2007 (21,247 samples) indicate that most bacteria of human health concern are relatively rare in these products (98.6% of satisfactory quality); however, outbreaks of salmonellosis were uncovered associated with bagged salad leaves and fresh herbs during two such studies. J Appl Microbiol. 2008;105(6):1729-43.