The recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in a Vancouver, Washington day care is a powerful reminder that the family of virulent E. coli that includes E. coli O157:H7 is not your average food poisoning pathogen. Four children that attended the daycare facility have been sickened with serious illnesses caused by the dangerous bacteria; one four year old boy has already lost his tragic battle with the microbe. State... [more]

Children love petting zoos. Interacting one on one with the sheep and goats seems to be particularly fun for youngsters. However, petting zoos can be a hidden source of various illnesses including E. coli. There are several illnesses which can be passed from animals to people. Some of these are more commonly thought of as foodborne illnesses. Here is a list of some of the transferrable illnesses: Brucellosis... [more]

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Brucella. These bacteria are primarily passed among animals, and they cause disease in many different vertebrates. Various Brucella species affect sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, dogs, and several other animals. Humans become infected by coming in contact with animals or animal products that are contaminated with these... [more]

It is a common practice among cattle ranchers to enclose cattle into a “Feed Lot” a few months before slaughter. This practice is done to ensure that the cows can get fattened up on unnatural grain heavy diets to add weight and “marbling” to the meat. “Feed lots” are very small enclosures, where dozens of these animals are crammed into tightly fenced in spaces with only enough room for... [more]

With the recent outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 attributed to contaminated beef, questions often come up about what cattle ranchers and agro processors can do to curb this terrible bacteria from ever entering our food supply. The simplest solution seems to be the prevention of the bacteria from infecting the cow in the first place. But since E. coli O157:H7 can exist inside a cow without the cow exhibiting... [more]