The news headlines about E Coli outbreak

E. Coli outbreak in Europe … what’s in it for me (WIIFM)?  

E. coli lives in our gut (colon) –it’s a normal germ for human lower GI tract.  However, some super bug E. coli strains have developed.  One version is E. coli 0157:H7 which was first identified in 1982 when contaminated hamburger meat made people sick..  E. Coli lives in the gut of farm animals (such as cows) also.  The waste from animals can contaminate a water supply which may be used to irrigate gardens. 

Past outbreaks of E. Coli have been traced back to contaminated foods such as inadequately cooked hamburgers and unpasteurized milk and fruit juices. Researchers are working to identify the source of contamination in the current outbreaks? Is it contaminated water used to irrigate the cucumber crop that caused the problem?  Is it contaminated manure used to fertilize gardens?  They don’t know.  Another factor is that some new strains of E. Coli have developed or maybe it’s the old strains that have mutated (changed).   

What can we do to protect ourselves and our loved ones from E. Coli infection?  More tomorrow.