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Hydroponically grown radish (Raphanus sativus) sprouts served in school lunch were epidemiologically implicated as causative vehicle of Escherichia coli O157:H7 at the largest outbreak occurred in Sakai City, Japan, in 1996. Laboratory experiments suggested the possibility that E. coli O157:H7 had grown during radish sprouts production. In order to improve sanitation level in radish sprout production, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, developed hygiene practice manual for radish sprouts production in October 1996, then revised it in March 1998. The manual has adopted the concept of HACCP and identifies supplied water and seeds as critical control points (CCP).
