QUESTION BOUT THE SPINACH RECALL!Will you answer?

Question

How do you know if you were infected with the E-coli in the prepackaged spinach?

Answer 1

It takes about 2 to 8 days for a person to show signs of infection which include:
o- bloody diarrhea
o- nausea and vomiting
o- severe abdominal cramps
o- fever

Healthy adults infected with E. coli O157:H7 may recover within 5 to 10 days without treatment. The higher risk is for those with a compromised immune system, children and older adults. A serious complication is called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It leads to destruction of the red blood cells and kidney failure. About 2%-7% of infections lead to this complication. Even with the patient receiving intensive care, the death rate from hemolytic uremic syndrome can be about 3%-5%.

The very infectious E. coli -- type 0157:H7 may also be antibiotic resistant. During the current epidemic of E.coli 0157:H7 found in spinach an 85-year-old woman died in Wisconsin and 50 people have been hospitalized.

The CDC estimates that about 73,000 cases of E.coli occur each year. And 76 million cases of other food borne illness. For E. coli, every year, 2,100 Americans are hospitalized, and 61 people die as a direct result of E. coli infections and its complications. A recent study estimated the annual cost of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to be $405 million (in 2003 dollars). Those costs that contributed to this estimate included $370 million for premature deaths, $30 million for medical care, and $5 million for lost productivity.

The virulence of E. coli O157:H7 is a result of its ability to produce Shiga-like toxins, or verotoxins. Shiga-like toxins inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and play a role in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome by causing damage to endothelial cells in the kidneys, pancreas, brain, and other organs, thus inhibiting those organs’ ability to function.

The primary mode of transmission of E. coli at agricultural fairs, petting zoos, and farm visits was previously thought to be fecal-oral – that is, by ingestion of bacteria-laden feces via contaminated food or water, or transfer by hand to mouth following contact with contaminated surfaces or animals. Conclusions reached by investigators in several recent fair-associated outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 suggest that ingestion or perhaps even inhalation of contaminated dust particles may be an additional cause of E. coli infection among fairgoers and visitors to petting zoos.

Spinach is a healthy food. You may eat it. The problem with bagged "pre-washed" packaged spinach and salads is that people tend to eat it right out of the bag without washing it again. That is not healthy. Raw food should be thoroughly washed, not just rinsed. Cooking does kill most pathogens.

For some people, especially young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, foodborne illness can be very dangerous.

Foodborne illnesses are more common that most people think. You should always soak raw fruits and vegetables in chlorinated tap water for a few minutes and rub it to get it clean and rinse under running tap water before you prepare and eat them . Use a brush to scrub produce with firm or rough surfaces, such as oranges, cantaloupes, potatoes and carrots. Any bacteria left-over will be killed by cooking.

At this time, Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, is recalling all of its products that contain spinach in all the brands they pack with “Best if Used by Dates” of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006. The products were distributed to about 20 states and Mexico.

Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands include: Natural Selection Foods, Pride of San Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point, River Ranch, Superior, Nature’s Basket, Pro-Mark, Compliments, Trader Joe’s, Ready Pac, Jansal Valley, Cheney Brothers, Coastline, D’Arrigo Brothers, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Pro*Act, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer’s Market, Tanimura & Antle, President’s Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms. These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and food service products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

Sometimes, the contamination comes from cow manure used as fertilizer. Cows, pigs, sheep and horses may be infected with E. coli O157:H7 and not become ill. In the past, contaminated seeds, irrigation water, and flooding have contributed to E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach, parsley, and other fresh produce.

E. coli O157:H7 has formerly been found on all types of produce including strawberries, lettuce and bean sprouts. It has also been found in meat. You should thoroughly wash all vegetables and fruits that you eat raw. The tap water is chlorinated which generally is sufficient to kill most bacteria but O157:H7 is also resistant to chlorine so you must soak the vegetables for around 10 minutes and use friction to rub the vegetables. Unpasturized fruit juices were the source of a large E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 1996.

Meat must be thoroughly cooked. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria is believed to mostly live in the intestines of cattle, but has also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, and pigs. E. coli O157:H7 does not make the animals that carry it ill; the animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria.

Answer 2

You would be feeling sick
Some infected people have mild diarrhea or no symptoms at all. Most identified cases develop severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Blood is often seen in the stool. Usually little or no fever is present. Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear. Persons experiencing these symptoms should contact their physician.

Answer 3

Incubation period ranges from 1 to 8 days;
Infection should be considered in any person who: Has bloody diarrhea. Has diarrhea and has been exposed to other people infected with E. coli or to contaminated food suspected or known to be associated with an E. coli outbreak. Develops sudden, severe blood or kidney problems, or both. Early signs include paleness, fever, weakness, bruising, and passing small amounts of urine.
http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw133795

Answer 4

You don't know unless you become sick with vomiting and stomach cramps, which will last about 3 days;unless you have a very severe reaction to it. Then you have to see a doctor or go to the ER. A woman 77 years old died from it. It seems to affect the elderly and children the worst.

Answer 5

Severe stomach cramps and stomach tenderness.
Diarrhea, watery at first, but often becoming very bloody.
Nausea and vomiting.
Some people who are infected with the bacteria do not notice any symptoms. They may spread the bacteria to others without knowing it.

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

You will Know. If you start getting really bad stomache cramps, diarreah and possibly throwing up. My son had it and he used the bathroom 25 times in one day with nothing but pure blood.

Answer 8

You would experience dramatic flu like symptoms which worsen rapidly. You probably wouldn't feel like asking Yahoo Answers !

Answer 9

if you were infected, you'd probably be either in the hospital right now, or sitting on the toilet for a long period of time. If you feel normal, you're probably safe.

Answer 10

Go to http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/e/e_coli_food_poisoning/symptoms.htm.
It lists all the symptoms on the list. I was at a restaurant working today and was working on the sandwhich line when they told me that.