(ProsperNews.net) – The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is warning meat eaters about a potential E. coli contamination in beef. Green Bay Dressed Beef, based in Wisconsin, has recalled almost 60,000 pounds of its products from across several states. The recall was prompted when a public official testing the meat found traces of E. coli.
The company produced the affected meat in mid-August and distributed it to Ohio, Michigan, and Georgia. FSIS asked people in those states to throw out beef products but said they have not yet discovered any cases of human contamination.
Escherichia coli is a bacteria that lives in the intestines. It is found in the gut of several animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, and deer. Some strains of the bacteria are healthy and aid our digestive system, but some, usually from animals, can cause unpleasant symptoms in humans, such as diarrhea.
Most people associate E. coli with food poisoning, but medical experts surprisingly say it causes 75% to 95% of urinary tract infections. This occurs when the bacteria transfer from the gut to the urinary tract.
Some types of E. coli create a toxin known as Shiga. This strain is known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC, and is the culprit in the Green Bay Dressed Beef contamination.
A separate strain, known as O157:H7, is perhaps the most menacing. This causes vomiting, abdominal cramps, confusion, fever, seizures, and can result in kidney failure.
Most E. coli cases occur in humans through meat consumption, unpasteurized milk, fruit or vegetables that have been in contact with contaminated water, or contact with affected animals or people.
To lower the risk of harm from E. coli, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends cooking meat to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (71 degrees Celsius). This is crucial; a meat thermometer should be used to ensure correct temperatures. Following this procedure will help control E. coli and other potentially harmful bacteria.
Copyright 2023, ProsperNews.net
