This is primarily because two sprouting facilities in two states were linked with the implicated alfalfa sprouts and only one lot of seeds from Idaho State was common to Michigan and Virginia. Therefore, the likely point of contamination include during growth or harvesting, seed processing, in storage, or during transportation of the food. This implies that the identification of the actual point of contamination requires collection of more information on each of these steps. Question 17:

The results of inspection of the alfalfa fields indicated that the three possible source of contamination include cattle manure, deer feces, and irrigation water. Generally, cattle are the basic reservoir for E. coli O157:H7 while other animals like deer can either be carriers of or become infected by the bacteria. Therefore, inspecting the alfalfa fields and harvesting process may require consideration of the site of the fields, soil, fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation water, harvesting and processing equipment, storage containers and rooms, and shipping trucks.

Question 18:

Generally, dealing with the issue of seed sprouts as a high risk mechanism for foodborne illness is a relatively difficult task that requires consideration of short- and long-term measures when suggesting the most appropriate intervention or control measures. Some of these short-term and long-term measures under consideration include the immediate problem with the implicated lot of seed and the wider issue of seed sprouts as channels for pathogenic agents respectively. However, few options exist with regards to intervention or control measures because of the nature of sprout production and the present inability to remove contamination.

Some of the intervention / control measures I would suggest at this point include ongoing applied research to identify ways to successfully decontaminate the seeds or sprouts. Secondly, the public should be educated regarding the risks of sprouts while individuals...

Third, sprout growers should be educated regarding the most suitable conditions for growing sprout and handling them in order to lessen contamination. Fourth, sprout producers should be required to label sprouts as risky foods and warn the public about the danger of consuming them. The final control measure would be to eliminate sprouts from the human consumption market until their safety can be guaranteed (Stehr-Green, p. 24).
Question 19:

The most effective type of intervention/control measure against the sprout contamination problem is changes in processing of the product. Changes in product processing seems to the most effective because the other two measures i.e. education of producers and education of consumers require attitudinal and behavioral changes among a large group of people. This implies that the other two measures may require lots of efforts and are associated with uncertainty regarding their success. Actually, successes in educating the producer and consumer are known through they require constant resources and high level of public interest regarding the issue or problem being solved. Therefore, changes in product processing would be relatively easier to carry out and can guarantee success since it's easy to evaluate.

Works Cited:

Canada. Health Canada. Risks Associated with Sprouts. The Government of Canada, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 25 June 2013. .

Clark, Marler. "Press Releases: Food Poisoning Litigation News: Sprouts and Foodborne Illness Have a Long History, Says Marler Clark Food Safety Expert." Marler Clark: Attorney at Law L.L.P.P.S. Marler Clark, 24 May 2010. Web. 25 June 2013. .

United States. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. A Multistate Outbreak of E. Coli O157:H7 Infection: INSTRUCTOR'S VERSION. By Jeanette K. Stehr-Green. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Apr. 2002. Web. 25 June 2013. .