2008 Woodie Awards
The plan against E. Coli
Carolyn Tavares
Issue date: 9/21/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
E. coli. How hazardous is this invisible threat?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur in the United States annually due to the food borne illness Escherichia coli O157:H7 more commonly known as E.coli.
E. coli O157:H7 is "one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness," according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The illness that stems from an E.coli infection has been associated with eating contaminated, uncooked ground beef. It is also possible that the illness may occur from drinking raw milk or by swimming in sewage-contaminated water.
Consumers can prevent contracting E.coli by thoroughly cooking ground beef, avoiding unpasteurized milk, and washing hands carefully and regularly.
So what is SHU doing to prevent its students from getting sick?
"We are aware of the guidelines for properly cooking hamburger beef," said Angel Rosado, the Food Service Director of FLIK. "All of the meat is cooked to the temperature of 160 oF."
Meat can be contaminated during slaughter, in which bacteria can be mixed in thoroughly into the beef when it is ground. Unfortunately, infected meat looks and smells like normal meat.
"I'm not concerned with the bacteria, as long as the meat isn't still mooo-ing at me," said Jennifer Binns, senior, Wethersfield. "I would hope that FLIK would take all necessary precautions when insuring our well-being."
An E.coli infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, even though some infections will cause no symptoms. If no fever is present, the illness will resolve itself in 5-10 days. Most people recover without antibiotics or other specific treatment in at least 10 days. There isn't evidence that antibiotics improve the course of the disease and it appears that treatment with antibiotics may bring about kidney complications.
Other sources of infection include consumption of sprouts, lettuce, salami and unpasteurized juices.
Currently, the FDA has advised the public not to eat any fresh spinach or salad blends that contain fresh spinach that is consumed raw.
When asked about these concerns, Rosado said, "We are on stand-by and are waiting till Corporate gives us the green light to begin serving fresh spinach again."
As of Sept. 17, a total of 109 people from 19 states have been reported by the Center for Disease Control infected with the outbreak of E. coli.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occur in the United States annually due to the food borne illness Escherichia coli O157:H7 more commonly known as E.coli.
E. coli O157:H7 is "one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain produces a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness," according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The illness that stems from an E.coli infection has been associated with eating contaminated, uncooked ground beef. It is also possible that the illness may occur from drinking raw milk or by swimming in sewage-contaminated water.
Consumers can prevent contracting E.coli by thoroughly cooking ground beef, avoiding unpasteurized milk, and washing hands carefully and regularly.
So what is SHU doing to prevent its students from getting sick?
"We are aware of the guidelines for properly cooking hamburger beef," said Angel Rosado, the Food Service Director of FLIK. "All of the meat is cooked to the temperature of 160 oF."
Meat can be contaminated during slaughter, in which bacteria can be mixed in thoroughly into the beef when it is ground. Unfortunately, infected meat looks and smells like normal meat.
"I'm not concerned with the bacteria, as long as the meat isn't still mooo-ing at me," said Jennifer Binns, senior, Wethersfield. "I would hope that FLIK would take all necessary precautions when insuring our well-being."
An E.coli infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, even though some infections will cause no symptoms. If no fever is present, the illness will resolve itself in 5-10 days. Most people recover without antibiotics or other specific treatment in at least 10 days. There isn't evidence that antibiotics improve the course of the disease and it appears that treatment with antibiotics may bring about kidney complications.
Other sources of infection include consumption of sprouts, lettuce, salami and unpasteurized juices.
Currently, the FDA has advised the public not to eat any fresh spinach or salad blends that contain fresh spinach that is consumed raw.
When asked about these concerns, Rosado said, "We are on stand-by and are waiting till Corporate gives us the green light to begin serving fresh spinach again."
As of Sept. 17, a total of 109 people from 19 states have been reported by the Center for Disease Control infected with the outbreak of E. coli.
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