| It's green. It's leafy. It's nutritious. Who knew it could be | | | | contaminated foods (like spinach), only completely |
| deadly? And spinach is not the only good food that | | | | cooking it will kill the bacteria. Be aware of how you |
| poses risks of getting the bacteria E.coli. Prior to recent | | | | handle your food at the grocery store. Raw meat |
| events, E.coli contamination had been found mostly in | | | | sometimes leaks blood so keep unpackaged items like |
| undercooked ground beef but in the past decade we | | | | your fruits and vegetables in the plastic bags provided |
| have been hearing more about humans getting sick | | | | at the store. It's also a good idea to bag them up |
| and even dying from E coli from consuming fruits and | | | | before they take their trip down the checkout belt. |
| vegetables. According to the Center for Disease | | | | Don't forget this belt held a lot of other people's leaky |
| Control, E. Coli O157:H7 can be highly contagious with | | | | meat, too!Don't put cooked meat on unwashed |
| an estimated 75,000 cases and 61 deaths per year in | | | | surfaces or plates that held raw meat. After handling |
| the United States alone.E.coli is scientifically known as | | | | or containing the raw meat, it's important to wash |
| Escherichia coli O157:H7. The numbers after the name | | | | hands, utensils, surfaces, plates, and containers with hot |
| specifies the type of E.coli bacterium. There are many | | | | soapy water.If you or a child have diarrhea, wash your |
| different types of E.coli that live in healthy human and | | | | hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers. |
| animal intestines. However, the E.coli O157:H7 strain is | | | | Cleaning the bathroom and toilet with a disinfectant |
| toxic to individuals.E.coli O157:H7 is found in | | | | after the infected person has used it is a good idea, |
| unpasteurized milk or juice, undercooked or raw meat | | | | too.Only drink chlorinated, disinfected water. Don't |
| (esp. beef), sewage-contaminated water (it can be | | | | ingest swimming pool or lake water. If you or a child |
| contracted by swimming in or drinking it), and any | | | | has diarrhea stop the chance of spreading it by not |
| unwashed, uncooked vegetable or fruit in which | | | | swimming at the pool or lake or sharing baths.Only |
| manure was used as the fertilizer (such as alfalfa | | | | drink pasteurized milk and juices. The pasteurization |
| sprouts, lettuce, spinach).People infected with the | | | | process heats the liquids enough to kill the E.coli. There |
| bacteria will have diarrhea (often bloody) and | | | | have been cases where raw milk caused E.coli |
| abdominal cramps. In healthy adults that contract it, it | | | | infections. This comes about because cows can have |
| will go away in 5 to 10 days. Antibiotic treatment may | | | | E.coli on their udders and transfer it to the milking |
| or may not be required. In young children (esp. those | | | | equipment and into the milk.The FDA is following and |
| younger than 5 years) and the elderly, symptoms can | | | | enforcing measurements to keep food safe for the |
| be deadly. They get not only the diarrhea but can also | | | | public. They don't like to see companies using manure |
| get kidney failure which can lead to long-term health | | | | on raw consumables. Hopefully, this will bring about |
| problems such as blindness, high blood pressure, and | | | | change in farming practices in the USA before another |
| seizure. This kidney failure can also lead to | | | | E coli story hits the news.Although the government has |
| death.Preventing the spread of E.coli involves being | | | | guidelines for the safe farming and processing of |
| diligent in cooking and cleaning. All meat (esp. beef) | | | | foods, it is up to the consumer to be smart in food |
| must be cooked thoroughly. Meat that is "done" has an | | | | preparation, hygiene, and environmental awareness. Be |
| internal temperature of 160 degrees in its thickest part. | | | | sure to consume only pasteurized milk and juices, |
| The reason why E.coli is found in beef is because | | | | thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, especially those |
| cows-even healthy ones-can carry the bacteria in their | | | | that grow on the ground, do not consume |
| intestines. When they are slaughtered and ground, | | | | undercooked meat and practice safe cooking |
| E.coli can contaminate processing equipment and meat. | | | | habits.Tina Seay is the author and webmaster of an |
| Remember that contaminated E.coli meat looks and | | | | excellent resource site with health articles, recipes, |
| smells perfectly normal.Fruits and vegetables need to | | | | organizing tips and so much more. She strives to help |
| be washed with soap and water. Although with some | | | | others live a better quality of life. |