Risk of E. coli increases in summertime
In an article for Newday, Delthia Ricks and Chau Lamb interviewed Dr. Robert Gravani, of Cornell University, about a recent spate of E. coli cases in Suffolk County, New York. Dr. Gravani acknowledged that summertime means more E. coli outbreaks, and pointed out that consumers grilling more hamburgers is not the only cause.
Studies of cattle herds tell yet another side of the story: E. coli O157:H7, a hardy .microbe that can cause kidney failure in humans, has a definite seasonal prevalence.Researchers at the University of Minnesota and the University of Nebraska have found that from June through September up to 10 percent to 20 percent of all cattle may test positive for the microbe, which is harmless to cows. In winter, the number of positive animals declines to less than 5 percent.
In other E. coli news, the Flint Journal reported that Abbott's Meat, Inc., a Flint, Michigan, company that recalled over 26,000 pounds of ground beef products after a sample of the ground beef tested positive for E. coli, has recovered all remaining ground beef subject to recall.
By this morning, all remaining ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria was expected to be back at Abbott's Meat Inc., said company President Ed Abbott."We think all the meat is out (of the businesses). Most of it's back at our plant," [company President Ed ] Abbott said Tuesday.
