How exactly does E. coli 0157: H7 get into our food? What route does it take?

Answer 1

How is E. coli O157:H7 spread?

The organism can be found on most cattle farms, and it is commonly found in petting zoos and can live in the intestines of healthy cattle, deer, goats, and sheep. Meat can become contaminated during slaughter, and organisms can be accidentally mixed into meat when it is ground. Bacteria present on the cow's udders or on equipment may get into raw milk. In a petting zoo, E.coli O157:H7 can contaminate the ground, railings, feed bins, and fur of the animals.

Eating meat, especially ground beef, that has not been cooked sufficiently to kill E. coli O157:H7 can cause infection. Contaminated meat looks and smells normal. The number of organisms required to cause disease is very small.

Among other known sources of infection are consumption of sprouts, lettuce, spinach, salami, unpasteurized milk and juice, and by swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.

Bacteria in loose stool of infected persons can be passed from one person to another if hygiene or hand washing habits are inadequate. This is particularly likely among toddlers who are not toilet trained. Family members and playmates of these children are at high risk of becoming infected.

Young children typically shed the organism in their feces for a week or two after their illness resolves. Older children and adults rarely carry the organism without symptoms.

Answer 2

What is E. coli O157:H7?

E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in cattle feces. According to Centers for Disease Control estimates, up to 20,400 cases of E. coli infection and 500 deaths from E. coli disease occur annually in the United States. Nearly three-quarters of all cases are directly linked to ground beef.

What can you do to keep your family safe - - or at least, safer - - from the possibility of E. coli contamination? First of all, don't eat undercooked hamburger. When preparing hamburger at home, cook ground beef until the interior is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Separate dishes and utensils that have come into contact with uncooked ground beef, so they don't contaminate other foods. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meats.

If someone in your family develops symptoms of E. coli infection, see your physician for treatment immediately. Rapid medical intervention can save lives; it can also help prevent additional infections

Answer 3

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How exactly does E. coli 0157: H7 get into our food? What route does it take?

Answer 4

There are literally thousands of variants of E.coli. It occurs quite naturally in the gut of animals, including you. In the process of turning cattle, sheep, pigs and chicken into dinner exposes the bacteria to the meat itself, as can poor food handling practices and poor personal hygiene. You can transfer e.coli via contaminated meat, not completely cooked meat, or through cross contamination. If you handle raw meat and then the salad for dinner- you can get the e.coli from eating the salad. In the case of fresh vegetables, the e.coli may come from soil contaminated with manure, directly from animal droppings on the plants or improperly composted fertilizer, or from contaminated water used to irrigate. In the factory, it only takes one contaminated source to contaminate the whole place. Pre-washed produce gets contaminated through the wash water.
The route of transmission is basically poo to mouth. The particular brand of e.coli you mention is particularly nasty because of an chemical it produces as a waste product which is particularly virulent. However, the e.coli present in your own body can and does do much the same thing- if it gets out of the lower gut and back into the body via the mouth.
The preventative is the same for preventing all types of food borne illness- good sanitation practices, good kitchen prep and sanitation, and proper storage of food before, during and after eating.

Answer 5

E. coli is found in EVERYONE's large intestine.

Since it's in feces (in the intestine), people use it as a tracker to see if there is fecal contamination in food.

It can be there from improper handling or storing of food or from any livestock.

Answer 6

Where Does Ecoli Come From

Answer 7

Wash your hands well after using the bathroom. E.coli lives in stool.