Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022
Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a serious infection with a high mortality rate for persons at higher risk for listeriosis. The first Listeria outbreak linked to frozen vegetables occurred in 2016 and resulted in three deaths. Many frozen vegetables are intended to be consumed after cookin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Food Protection |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X24002242 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832573228211503104 |
|---|---|
| author | Michelle Canning Michael Ablan Tamara N. Crawford Amanda Conrad Alexandra Busbee Misha Robyn Katherine E. Marshall |
| author_facet | Michelle Canning Michael Ablan Tamara N. Crawford Amanda Conrad Alexandra Busbee Misha Robyn Katherine E. Marshall |
| author_sort | Michelle Canning |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a serious infection with a high mortality rate for persons at higher risk for listeriosis. The first Listeria outbreak linked to frozen vegetables occurred in 2016 and resulted in three deaths. Many frozen vegetables are intended to be consumed after cooking. However, data on consumer behavior are sparse. We characterized consumers’ perceptions of contamination of prepackaged frozen vegetables, and preparation methods of prepackaged frozen vegetables to help inform prevention strategies. During September 1–24, 2022, Porter Novelli Public Services conducted the FallStyles survey using the Ipsos KnowledgePanel. Data were weighted to be representative of the U.S. population. Point estimates and 95% CIs were calculated, and differences between respondents were determined using Wald chi square tests. Among 3,008 respondents reporting a preparation and consumption method for frozen vegetables, 8.7% (95% CI = 7.4–10.0%) reported ever consuming the product raw. Respondents who reported having children < 18 years old were more likely to report ever consuming frozen vegetables raw compared with respondents who did not (12.5% vs. 7.4%, p < 0.01). The most reported raw preparation method was adding them directly to a blender for smoothie or juice (5.6%; 95% CI = 4.6–6.7%). Among respondents who reported eating frozen vegetables, 59.6% (95% CI = 57.6–61.6%) reported following package instructions. A third (34.1% [95% CI = 32.2–35.9%]) of respondents agreed that frozen vegetables can be contaminated with germs (like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria), with a greater proportion of people with cancer disagreeing compared to those without cancer (32.5% vs 23.4%, p = 0.041). These findings show that some consumers may not be cooking frozen vegetables before eating them. Second, consumers might not be reading instructions on packaging. Both findings highlight the critical importance of preventive controls in the production of frozen vegetables prior to reaching the consumer. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8dc4478db520436189425a3cc01cf5b5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0362-028X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Food Protection |
| spelling | doaj-art-8dc4478db520436189425a3cc01cf5b52025-02-02T05:26:42ZengElsevierJournal of Food Protection0362-028X2025-02-01882100440Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022Michelle Canning0Michael Ablan1Tamara N. Crawford2Amanda Conrad3Alexandra Busbee4Misha Robyn5Katherine E. Marshall6Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 1299 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USADivision of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 1299 Bethel Valley Rd, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USADivision of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USADivision of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1600 Clifton Rd NE MS-H24-10, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA; Corresponding author.Listeria monocytogenes causes listeriosis, a serious infection with a high mortality rate for persons at higher risk for listeriosis. The first Listeria outbreak linked to frozen vegetables occurred in 2016 and resulted in three deaths. Many frozen vegetables are intended to be consumed after cooking. However, data on consumer behavior are sparse. We characterized consumers’ perceptions of contamination of prepackaged frozen vegetables, and preparation methods of prepackaged frozen vegetables to help inform prevention strategies. During September 1–24, 2022, Porter Novelli Public Services conducted the FallStyles survey using the Ipsos KnowledgePanel. Data were weighted to be representative of the U.S. population. Point estimates and 95% CIs were calculated, and differences between respondents were determined using Wald chi square tests. Among 3,008 respondents reporting a preparation and consumption method for frozen vegetables, 8.7% (95% CI = 7.4–10.0%) reported ever consuming the product raw. Respondents who reported having children < 18 years old were more likely to report ever consuming frozen vegetables raw compared with respondents who did not (12.5% vs. 7.4%, p < 0.01). The most reported raw preparation method was adding them directly to a blender for smoothie or juice (5.6%; 95% CI = 4.6–6.7%). Among respondents who reported eating frozen vegetables, 59.6% (95% CI = 57.6–61.6%) reported following package instructions. A third (34.1% [95% CI = 32.2–35.9%]) of respondents agreed that frozen vegetables can be contaminated with germs (like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria), with a greater proportion of people with cancer disagreeing compared to those without cancer (32.5% vs 23.4%, p = 0.041). These findings show that some consumers may not be cooking frozen vegetables before eating them. Second, consumers might not be reading instructions on packaging. Both findings highlight the critical importance of preventive controls in the production of frozen vegetables prior to reaching the consumer.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X24002242Foodborne illnessSalmonellaListeria monocytogenesEscherichia coliFrozen vegetablesConsumers |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Canning Michael Ablan Tamara N. Crawford Amanda Conrad Alexandra Busbee Misha Robyn Katherine E. Marshall Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022 Journal of Food Protection Foodborne illness Salmonella Listeria monocytogenes Escherichia coli Frozen vegetables Consumers |
| title | Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022 |
| title_full | Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022 |
| title_short | Preparation Methods and Perceived Risk of Foodborne Illness Among Consumers of Prepackaged Frozen Vegetables – United States, September 2022 |
| title_sort | preparation methods and perceived risk of foodborne illness among consumers of prepackaged frozen vegetables united states september 2022 |
| topic | Foodborne illness Salmonella Listeria monocytogenes Escherichia coli Frozen vegetables Consumers |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X24002242 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michellecanning preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 AT michaelablan preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 AT tamarancrawford preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 AT amandaconrad preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 AT alexandrabusbee preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 AT misharobyn preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 AT katherineemarshall preparationmethodsandperceivedriskoffoodborneillnessamongconsumersofprepackagedfrozenvegetablesunitedstatesseptember2022 |