Outbreaks of E. Coli Arising From Inappropriate

¶ … outbreaks of E. Coli arising from inappropriate handling of food. In May, 2010, for instance, an Escolar outbreak forced the recall of lettuce in 23 U.S. States, most of it destined for supermarket and restaurant salad bars. This is critical in America today in which almost 50% of meals are prepared and eaten outside the home. So many different products are used to prepare meals in fast-food and convenience restaurants that there are any number of potential contaminants.

In this particular case, the FDA is focusing its research on lettuce grown in Arizona. At least 12 people were hospitalized and another 10 cases with probable cause-based specifically on romaine lettuce (Memmott, 2010). Analysis- I remembered that in the early 1990s there was an E. coli outbreak based on food from Jack in the Box, actually causing children to die. I did some research, finding that 400 people were infected, but it took almost a week for the company to respond and deal with the outbreak (Ulmer and Sellnow, 2000).

In the research, I also found that the same pathogen was found in 1996 in Odwalla juice (apple). One child died and 60 people were infected, but in this case, the company ordered a complete recall of all its products that might even have a hint of apple juice, costing them almost $7 million dollars, but completed within 48 hours. Unlike Jack in the Box, Odwalla went directly on television to express sympathy and a promise that the company would pay 100% of all medical costs (Baker, 2002). The pathogen E.

Coli is around us constantly, and with the amount of food that is consumed without adequate care, can be a huge public health issue. Scientific Name -- Escherichia coli (E. coli) Pathogen Description -- E.coli is a gram-negative bacterium that is common in the lower intestines of warm-blood organisms. Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some can cause extremely serious food poisoning in humans. Virulent strains of E.

coli cause intense stomach and gut pain, urinary tract infections, nausea, fever, intense diarrhea and can even be fatal to the very old or children. Typical transmission comes from eating unwashed vegetables or undercooked meat. It is not the bacteria itself that causes sickness, but the toxins that are produced as the bacteria feeds. These toxins bind to intestinal cells, disrupting their function, often deforming the cell and eventually killing it.

Diarrhea is caused by both the inflammatory response the cell has to the toxin and the effacement that happens when too many intestinal cells are affected (Escherichia coli, 2012). Bacterial infections are typically treated with antibiotics, but many E. coli strains have developed significant resistance due to overuse in humans and animal food. It entirely depends on the particular strain of E. coli as to whether antibiotics will be effective. However, the best prevention is thoroughly washing any fruits of.