E. Coli Myths and Misunderstandings

So we went around asking people what the knew and understood about E. Coli, and educating them on any information they did not know.  We were surprised to find that many people misunderstood E. Coli and did not even know the name of the bacteria that causes it! Today we will go over some comments people had, and correct the myths and misunderstanding it seems the public seems to be unaware of. Be sure to have a piece of pen and paper to write down any new information you find from this post and correct any misunderstandings!
(image from http://www.onlinehomesurveys.com/)

"Isn't E. Coli only found in certain animals like cows and only when they themselves are sick with an infection?"
          Actually, no. This myth is wrong in more ways then one. Escherichia Coli is found in many mammals, not just cows and other produce.  This bacteria is a normal occurrence in the intestines of their stomachs, and aid in the digestion of foods. E. Coli poising happens when we eat food that still has E. Coli on it, and it comes in contact with our digestive tract. The animal does not need to be sick to get us sick from eating it.


"Aren't there Vaccines for the E. Coli virus?"
          No, this is a major misunderstanding.  E.coli does not have any vaccines, because the bacteria itself is naturally occurring. Also, Escherichia Coli is not a virus, it is a bacteria, another reason there can be no vaccine for the sickness.


"I can't get E. Coli if i go vegetarian though right?"
          Unfortunately, this is not true. It is still possible to get E. Coli if you decide to go vegetarian. This is because other foods can be cross-contaminated and contain E. Coli, and you can also get the disease from drinking unpasteurized drinks. Staying away from meat will definitely decrease your chances of getting the disease, but it does not completely eliminate your chances.


"But it's contagious!"
          Not exactly. While it is true you can spread E. Coli to another person. this is done by fecal matter. As long as you stay away from an infected persons fecal matter, or anything contaminated by it, you can not get E. Coli from the infected person. Yes, that means you and your significant other can walk hand in hand!
          

"I never eat medium rare steaks, that's begging for E. Coli."
          Actually, medium rare steak is safe,as long as it is cooked at high enough temperatures (160degrees Fahrenheit). It is the ground meat you want to watch out for.  E. coli occurs on the surface of the meats and should be killed when the meat is seared during cooking.  The problem with ground meat, is that tissue containing the bacteria could be ground in with the meat during the grounding process.  This is what makes it potentially dangerous.


These are a few of the misunderstandings people that we questioned had about E. Coli. Don't be embarrassed if you were under the same impression they were, now that you have the correct information be sure to let everyone know and encourage health and hygeine!