How to Avoid E. Coli

How to Avoid E. Coli
FREE DAILY DIET TIP
By Carly Young, Special to LifeScript

Friday, August 1, 2008
Juice, fresh produce and lean ground beef are good for you... unless they’re contaminated with E. coli. Escherichia coli are a broad group of bacteria that live in your intestines and help keep you healthy. But a few strains can cause food-borne illness. If you experience diarrhea and abdominal cramping after eating something you suspect is contaminated, see your doctor. Although most people can recover completely from an episode of food poisoning within a few days, the better idea is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Here’s how to enjoy the foods you love without getting sick:
When grilling meat, don’t rely on color alone to tell if it’s done. Meat often browns before it’s completely cooked, so use a thermometer to ensure it’s heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit at the thickest point.
Produce can become contaminated by the fecal matter used in manure. Wash fruits and veggies thoroughly under running water using a scrub brush and vegetable wash before eating whole and before peeling.
Keep raw meat separate from all other foods at all times. Wash cutting boards, knives, counters, and anything else that raw meat has come in contact with in hot, soapy water.
Drink only pasteurized juice and milk.
No matter how clear and bubbly it is, don’t drink water from a lake or a stream. On that note, avoid swallowing pool or ocean water, too.When in doubt about whether or not a food is contaminated, remember – better safe than sorry.