Is it true that choosing organic foods will help me avoid E. coli?
Organic foods are often advertised as a healthier choice than other foods, but when it comes to food safety, organic foods carry the same risks as other foods. To understand E. coli infection, it’s first important to know from where this bacteria comes and how it is transmitted to humans. There are many strains of the bacteria E. coli — the one that causes severe illness is called E. coli O157:H7 (these numbers and letters refer to specific markers found on the bacterial cells). E. coli lives in the intestines of healthy cattle, deer, goats and sheep. Because these bacteria live in animal intestines, manure from these animals can carry the harmful E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. In the past, the most common food associated with E. coli was undercooked ground beef. Meat can become contaminated during slaughter, and organisms can be accidentally mixed into the meat when it is ground. Lately, however, E. coli infection from fresh fruits and vegetables has become more common. This is because ma
