E Coli Outbreak Prevention
Back in 2006 there were two hundred and forty individuals who found themselves very sick with a case of food poisoning. The E coli outbreak created quite a panic among consumers who began to wonder if anything was actually safe from this bacterium. The symptoms were dehydration, vomiting and diarrhea. Thankfully, everyone recovered but for the children, elderly and those suffering from a suppressed immune system. It was a scare that no one wanted to see happen again.
The initial E coli outbreak was caused by e coli 0157. This particularly nasty strain was tracked down to e coli infested crops of spinach. Many people were shocked that bacterium such as this could live on a vegetable. The spinach outbreaks were wide spread, with over 240 people across the United States becoming infected. Later. there was another outbreak, however this one was found in lettuce used at two food chains. Taco Bell and Taco Johns. It had many people in a panic questioning whether or not their food was actually safe.
The best way to avoid an E coli outbreak is to practice good hygiene and sanitation. It is not possible to have a germ free environment, but you can do your part to keep infections to a minimum and increase your chances of avoiding food poisoning. The first step is to always wash your hands in hot water and use plenty of soap. This is the most tried and true method for staying healthy.
Do not waste your time with expensive anti bacterial products that may just exacerbate the germ problem. The second step is to always prepare your meats on one cutting board and your vegetables on a separate cutting board. When you are done with the meal you will need to clean the cutting boards in hot soapy water and spray them down with a water/bleach solution to remove any lingering bacteria.
A great tip for avoiding an E coli outbreak at home is to always keep foods either hot or cold. Both temperature extremes create hostile environments for the bacteria. Left over food should be put immediately into a storage container and placed in either the refrigerator or the freezer to prevent the growth of any bacteria. Foods that can be heated should be heated to a high enough temperature to kill off any bacteria trying to proliferate on the surface. If you follow these simple tips, then you can greatly reduce the likelihood of catching the e coli bacteria 0157.
By Health Editor
