E-Coli Disease

[Richard Myers]

An American living in northern Arizona is the latest victim of the E. Coli outbreak in Europe. He had visited Germany last month.  According the Center for Disease Control there are six cases in the US. The Arizona man brings the death toll to 50 in this European Outbreak.     A Bible Answer

[Mimi]

I could not watch it. Our little church school took us on a tour of "a slaughter house" in fifth grade to make sure we would avoid meat. It worked but all the children had nightmares for months and the principal was taken before the school board.

Children or animals should never be subjected to such evil cruelty.

[Mimi]

Recall -- State / Local Press Release

 

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and safety alerts from states as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA is not responsible for the content of these notices.

 
Fresh Strawberries From Washington County Farm Implicated In E. coli O157 Outbreak In NW Oregon

 

Contact:
Media:
Jonathan Modie
503-758-4914 (Primary)
971-673-1102 (Desk)
jonathan.n.modie@state.or.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 8, 2011 - Oregon Public Health officials have identified fresh strawberries from a Newberg farm as the source of a cluster of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections that sickened at least 10 people last month, including one person who died.

The strawberries were produced last month by Jaquith Strawberry Farm located at 23135 SW Jaquith Road in Newberg. Jaquith finished its strawberry season in late July, and its strawberries are no longer on the market. Jaquith sold its strawberries to buyers who then resold them at roadside stands and farmer’s markets.

Health officials are urging consumers who may have purchased strawberries grown on this farm to throw them out. Strawberries that have been frozen or made into uncooked jam are of particular concern. Cooking kills E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

“If you have any strawberries from this producer—frozen, in uncooked jam, or any uncooked form—throw them out,” says Paul Cieslak, M.D., from Oregon Public Health Division. He says people who have eaten the strawberries, but remain well need take no action. The incubation period for E. coli O157:H7 is typically two to seven days.

None of the following have been implicated in this outbreak:

    Berries other than strawberries.
    Strawberries sold since Aug. 1.
    Strawberries sold south of Benton County or east of Multnomah County.
    Strawberries sold in supermarkets.
    Strawberries picked at Jaquith Strawberry Farm’s U-pick field.

Ten people have confirmed E. coli O157:H7 infection caused by a single strain. They include residents of Washington, Clatsop, and Multnomah Counties. Six other people in northwest Oregon also have recently developed E. coli O157:H7 infection and appear to be part of this outbreak.

Of the confirmed cases, four have been hospitalized, and one elderly woman in Washington County died from kidney failure associated with E. coli O157:H7 infection. There were twelve females and four males among the cases, and their ages ranged from 4 to 85. They fell ill between July 10 and July 29.

Cieslak, manager of the Oregon Public Health’s communicable disease section, said his team has been working with county public health officials and the Oregon Department of Agriculture on tracking the infection cases. When a potential outbreak is investigated, public health officials ask those who’ve been sickened, family members and health care providers a slate of questions to find common exposures and “trace back” to the source.

“If someone gets sick, we ask questions about everything from what they’ve eaten, to whether they’ve been to common gatherings, to whether they’ve been swimming in a particular place, and then out of this we try to find commonalities,” he said. “The commonality among these cases has been strawberries at roadside stands and farmer’s markets supplied by this one farm last month.”

E. coli is a common inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract and is usually harmless. But E. coli O157:H7 is a strain of the bacterium carried by some animals, that can contaminate food and water, and that produces toxins that can cause mild to severe intestinal illness, including severe cramps and diarrhea that is often bloody. Some patients develop complications that require hospitalization. About 5 percent of infected persons, especially young children and the elderly, suffer serious and potentially fatal kidney damage.

Antibiotics are not recommended for treatment of E. coli O157:H7 infection, and they may actually make kidney failure more likely. People infected with E. coli O157 should rest and drink plenty of fluids to reduce fatigue and dehydration.

Public health officials emphasize that fruits and vegetables are still important to a healthy diet; at least five servings per day are recommended. However, people need to take the following precautions with any uncooked produce:

 

    Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
    Keep fruits and vegetables and other raw food separated from cooked food
    Wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling raw foods, as well as before eating, after using the toilet, and after changing diapers.

 

[Dorine]

We have 'test' farms in our province and also in Ontario that have been using 'human sludge'. I wonder what kind of diseases that will spawn.

I am also very nervous about our church pot lucks. Most members are not vegetarian so the chance for cross contamination would be very high. That means you have to avoid the 'healthy' foods (anything raw) and who knows whats in the 'rest' of it. I know Adventists that don't have any problem with a little bit of lard, etc.

[Richard Myers]

Here is a link where I discussed sewer sludge eleven years ago in this topic in response to an e. coli outbreak in Ontario.  e. coli

[Richard Myers]

Oregon Public Health Division discovered deer feces matched the E. coli found in people who were infected with e coli in Oregon. One woman died and 14 were made ill from eating strawberries infected with e coli. This is important information since e coli is an ever increasing threat to human health.

Commercial food operations need to be protected from animal entry. The animals are sick and are infecting our fruit and vegetables.  And, home gardens need to be protected also.  Where you see deer dropping, beware. Do not use them for compost. Do not handle them.  Deer are becoming a very real threat to human health. There is a spreading of Mad deer and elk disease, Chronic Wasting Disease, in the U.S. It's moving from the Mid-west outward as more and more deer are being infected. Of course the main threat is from cattle that are the primary carrier of e coli and Mad Cow Disease. Keep animal manure out of your garden.

[Marelis]

Keep animal manure out of your garden.

Agree.  We live in extraordinary times. 

[Marelis]

The following article is interesting, even though it was written in 2002:

http://www.cgfi.org/2002/06/the-hidden-dangers-in-organic-food/

Some points are valid.  It broadens the topic and raises more questions.

[Richard Myers]

A final report on the e coli outbreak in Europe in 2011 which is the largest e. coli outbreak.

The European Union reported that the source of the outbreak was a seed shipment imported from Egypt in 2009. The outbreak was centered in Germany and linked to sprouted fenugreek seeds. 53 died and over 4,000 were made ill.      http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/120711.htm

[Richard Myers]

15 States are involved in an e. coli outbreak.

On April 4, 2013,  Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, New York, which previously announced a voluntary recall of certain Farm Rich® and Market Day® products is expanding its voluntary recall to include all products produced at its Waycross, Georgia plant with “Best By” dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014 due to possible contamination with Escherichia coli O121 bacteria (“E. coli O121”). The expanded recall is in addition to products recalled on March 28, 2013.

The CDC has reported 24 cases of E. coli 0121 in 15 states. Symptoms of the illness include mild to severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Blood is often seen in the stool. Usually little or no fever is present. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within 5-10 days, certain individuals can develop a complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) which can cause the kidneys to fail. HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition could lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

This is a deadly disease. 53 died in the European outbreak a little over a year ago. Rich Products has recalled over 10 million pounds of frozen pizza, mozzarella bites, Philly cheesesteaks, and other products possibly linked to this dangerous outbreak of E. coli poisoning.

[Richard Myers]

e.coli persists in the food supply.  It originates mainly from cattle feces which infects ground, water, and meat. It then travels to other types of food including vegetable and fruits. We have a new posting in the Recall  "child board" (sub forum).

Product Description
   
Delish Greek Style Orzo Salad (6.oz)   Clam Shell  Northern CA Walgreens

Delish Asian Style Noodle Salad (6. oz)   Clam Shell  Northern CA  Walgreens

Delish Vegetarian Wrap (11.3oz) Cellophane  Northern CA  Walgreens

Classic Greek Salad (9. oz) Clam Shell  Northern CA Northern NV   Trader Joe’s

Southwestern  Salad Kit (20 Lbs box)   Northern CA  Whole Foods

Wheat Berry Salad Kit (20 Lbs box)   Northern CA    Whole Foods


Notice the difference in attitude between the CDC information and the recall information from the FDA that Mimi posted.

Here is the CDC warning which links the product to the outbreak and does not play down the risk to humans.

Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Ready-to-Eat Salads

Posted November 10, 2013 5:00 PM ET
Initial Announcement
November 10, 2013

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in California, Washington, and Arizona; the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS); and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections. Public health investigators are using DNA "fingerprints" of E. coli bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that could be part of this outbreak. They are using data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections.

The type of bacteria responsible for this outbreak is among those referred to as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC.  Some types of STEC frequently cause severe disease, including bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. STEC bacteria are divided into serogroups (e.g., O157 or O121). E. Coli O157 is the STEC serogroup found most commonly in U.S. patients. The STEC O157:H7 PFGE pattern in this outbreak is new to the PulseNet database. It has never been seen before.

A total of 26 individuals infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7 have been reported from three states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arizona (1), California (22), and Washington (3).

Among persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from September 29, 2013 to October 26, 2013. Ill persons range in age from 4 years to 78 years, with a median age of 28 years. Sixty-one percent of ill persons are female. Among 21 persons with available information, 6 (28%) reported being hospitalized. Two ill persons have developed HUS, and no deaths have been reported.

Epidemiologic and traceback investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies indicate that two ready-to-eat salads, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken, produced by Glass Onion Catering and sold at Trader Joe’s grocery store locations, are one likely source of this outbreak of STEC O157:H7 infections.

CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview ill persons about foods eaten before becoming ill. FSIS and FDA are continuing to work closely with CDC and state partners during this investigation. This investigation is ongoing and work is continuing to determine the source of contamination and identify any other potentially contaminated products still on the market. CDC will update the public when additional information is available.
Recall
FSIS establishment number on recalled ready-to-eat salad products

Black arrow points to where consumers can look for the FSIS establishment number on one of the recalled ready-to-eat salad products.

On November 10, 2013, Glass Onion Catering, a Richmond, California firm, voluntarily recalled approximately 181,620 pounds of ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products with fully cooked chicken and ham that may be contaminated with STEC O157:H7. The products were produced between September 23, 2013 and November 6, 2013 and shipped to distribution centers intended for retail sale in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Tom Atherstone, company president, at (510) 236-8905.

The products subject to recall are regulated by both FSIS and FDA. Products regulated by FSIS bear the establishment number “P-34221” inside the USDA mark of inspection.

Read the full list of recalled products at both the FSISExternal Web Site Icon and FDAExternal Web Site Icon websites.

CDC, FSIS, and FDA recommend that consumers do not eat these products and dispose of them immediately.   CDC

[Richard Myers]

E. Coli has not disappeared. It is still infecting humans mainly through infected food. According to this CBS report, Chipotle has closed 43 of its restaurants after the latest e coli outbreak which so far has infected over 37 people. E. Coli can lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome  which can lead to death. Officials don't believe it came from a meat source, but from an uncooked source. This may be true, but the truth is not being expressed as to how the non meat source could become infected. E.Coli does not originate in lettuce and tomatoes. For strict vegetarians it is a warning that restaurants that serve meat may infect customers eating salads by cross contamination via meat sources.





It is interesting that at the same  time Chipotle has infected its customers with E.Coli, there is a recall of 160,000 pounds of ground beef which by the size of the boxes, it may have gone to commercial establishments such as restaurants. The producer of the meat found E.Coli in their meat through testing.

[Richard Myers]

E.Coli bacteria  as well as many other bacteria and virus are infecting food that we do not hear about. We have  not kept up with the E.Coli outbreaks, so we will post a few E. Coli outbreaks and recalls we have missed.

Last year there was a multi-state outbreak. According to CDC "In interviews, ill persons answered questions about foods eaten and other exposures during the week before becoming ill. Eleven (92%) of 12 ill persons interviewed reported eating ground beef prepared as a hamburger at a restaurant before becoming ill."

[Richard Myers]

A must watch film that reveals some what is in your food or how your food was grown.  An example of where the food industry has gone is when the British started dying from eating beef infected with Mad Cow Disease (BSE). How did the cows get BSE?

Cattle are believed to have been infected by being fed meat-and-bone meal (MBM) that contained either the remains of cattle who spontaneously developed the disease or scrapie-infected sheep products.[3][7] The outbreak increased throughout the United Kingdom due to the practice of feeding meat-and-bone meal to young calves of dairy cows.[3  source

Scrapie is Mad Sheep disease. They were feeding cows sick dead sheep? How about spreading sewer sludge on farm land where our food is being grown? Take time to watch the video to be educated on where the FDA and the USDA have gone in regards to keeping our food safe.

[Dorine]

I get a message saying this content is not allowed in your country. Something to that effect.

[Lena]

The video is working for me at this time.

[Richard Myers]

That is interesting, Dorine.  It appears to me that it is an approved video, but maybe not.   If so, then why can we watch it in the US, but you can't?  It could be that your country does not approve of something in the video?   I can see how it could be construed as hate speech by some. It surely points out the criminal attitude by those who are allowing e-coli into meat.  The video is graphic in regards to what many do not know, that cattle are standing in their manure and thus have e-coli on them when slaughtered. It also shows inhumane treatment of cattle. There are those who do not want this to get out to the public.

[rahab]

Wouldn’t work for me either.


E.coli is serious. My husband got it from Romaine lettuce and it almost killed him. So carefully wash everything before you eat it.

I have been to the cattle lots and the slaughterhouses. It’s horrible what goes on there.

[Richard Myers]

Sorry to hear about your husband, rahab. It is sad that e. coli has gotten into vegetables. It comes from cattle generally. They take cow manure and make a slurry out of it and use it for a fertilize. And, it is not just being used on organics, but on commercial crops also.

They have taken the video off of public view. Probably afraid of being sued for revealing the truth.

[rahab]

Sorry to hear about your husband, rahab. It is sad that e. coli has gotten into vegetables. It comes from cattle generally. They take cow manure and make a slurry out of it and use it for a fertilize. And, it is not just being used on organics, but on commercial crops also.

They have taken the video off of public view. Probably afraid of being sued for revealing the truth.

thank you
seems our freedom of speech is being affected...  I can understand taking stuff off that will radicalize people but taking everything off that does not agree with the ideas of the owners...oh well, I think at some point all of this social media will be gone