HEALTH REPORT -August 7, 2002: Bacteria in Food
This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
An American food company recently recalled about eight-million kilograms of ground beef
that is used to make hamburgers. The meat had sickened at least twenty-six people in five
states.
The beef contained the bacteria E. coli. The bacteria are passed from one person to another
through infected solid human waste.
Most people with E. coli infections have pains in the stomach. They may have diarrhea
–
waste that is loose and
watery instead of solid. Children under the age of five and older people might die if the bacteria destroy red blood
cells and cause kidney failure.
Experts say people should drink only pasteurized milk that has been heated to kill bacteria. And people should
drink only water that has been treated with chemicals to kill bacteria. They also say all ground beef should be
cooked well to kill any bacteria that might be present.
Listeria are other dangerous bacteria spread in food. They are found naturally in the
soil and water. Vegetables can become infected from the soil or from solid waste
materials used as fertilizer. Unpasteurized milk may also contain the bacteria.
People suffering from listeria infection have a high body temperature, muscle aches
and diarrhea. Experts say cooking all foods until they are very hot and washing
uncooked vegetables can prevent the infection. They also say people who cook
foods should always wash their hands and cooking tools after touching uncooked
foods.
Other dangerous bacteria are salmonella. This infection is spread by eating foods
that contain particles of animal waste. The victim gets a high fever, diarrhea and
stomach pain. Salmonella infection can kill a person if it spreads through the
bloodstream untreated. It can be prevented by making sure that eggs, chicken and
meat are cooked well.
Campylobacter is yet another bacterial disease. It is spread by eating chicken or
turkey meat that is not cooked well enough. It is also spread in unpasteurized milk
or untreated water. Camplylobacter victims suffer stomach pains, diarrhea and fever
for about one week. Experts say the best way to prevent infection is to cook meat
well and make sure that the liquid from uncooked meat does not touch other foods.
Doctors say most of these bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotic medicines in severe cases.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Nancy Steinbach.
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