Escherichia Coli 0157:H7
E. coli is a bacteria commonly found in cattle feces. According to Centers for Disease Control estimates, up to 20,400 cases of E. coli infection and 500 deaths from E. coli disease occur annually in the United States. Nearly three-quarters of all cases are directly linked to ground beef.
What can you do to keep your family safe - - or at least, safer - - from the possibility of E. coli contamination? First of all, don't eat undercooked hamburger. When preparing hamburger at home, cook ground beef until the interior is no longer pink and the juices run clear. Separate dishes and utensils that have come into contact with uncooked ground beef, so they don't contaminate other foods. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meats.
If someone in your family develops symptoms of E. coli infection, see your physician for treatment immediately. Rapid medical intervention can save lives; it can also help prevent additional infections.
More Information on E. coli 0157:H7:
- Revision 1 (9/3/1999) to Chapter 5: Detection, Isolation, and Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O157:NM (Nonmotile) from Meat Products
- The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service advises consumers to use a meat thermometer when cooking hamburger.
- Hamburger Safety Tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Extension Service
- Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins 1992 (Bad Bug Book)
Food Safety Project Director
Catherine H. Strohbehn, PhD, RD, CFSP
HRIM Extension Specialist
Adjunct Associate Professor
Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa, 50011-1121 USA
Email: cstrohbe@iastate.edu
Consumer and Processing Food Safety and ScienceSam Beattie, PhD
Food Safety Extension Specialist
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition
Iowa State University Extension
122A MacKay Hall
Ames, Iowa, 50011-1121 USA
Email: beatties@iastate.edu
- Article History
- Revision Date: 8/16/2006
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