About 100 strains of E. coli bacteria exist, most of which are harmless. However, about four strains, including E. coli O157:H7, are toxic and can make you severely ill with symptoms including bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Healthy adults will...
Foodborne illness affects an estimated 76 million people in the United States each year, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of the most dangerous infectious agents is E. coli O157:H7 -- a strain of...
Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is a species of bacteria found naturally in the intestines of animals and humans. Some strains can cause illness and even death if they are consumed. Although E. coli lives in animals, it can end up almost anywhere....
Foodborne illness, or food poisoning, can come from a variety of food sources. Many times, the food source becomes contaminated with a microorganism from the soil, water or animal/human waste. Other times, the food carries the infectious organism...
Humans and bacteria survive in similar environments on a daily basis. Many bacteria never directly contact people, many interact with humans in a beneficial way and some bacteria result in harmful infections. In many cases, a species of bacteria...
The intestinal tract can be infected by various bacteria, viruses and parasites, causing digestive symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea and abdominal pain as well fever, weigh loss and malaise, according to Merck Manuals. Although clinical studies...
Escherichia coli, usually abbreviated E. coli, is a species of bacteria that often lives in the intestinal tract of humans and many other animals. It comprises up to 1 percent of the total amount of bacteria in the intestine, according to Todar's...
Apple cider can be labeled organic, natural, pasteurized, or some combination of the three, and it can be hard to understand the distinctions. Knowing what each label means is key to understanding the differences and benefits of organic and...
Prevalent in the United States, foodborne disease affects an estimated 76 million Americans each year, according to the World Health Organization. Foodborne disease refers to illness caused by ingesting food or drink contaminated with bacteria,...
Food poisoning, or foodborne illness, is a common affliction in the United States and worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur in the United States annually. Food...
Alfalfa sprouts are high in fiber and can be a healthy addition to the diet. However, commercially-grown alfalfa sprouts carry many risks. If you want to eat sprouts, consider buying organic seeds and then sprouting them at home. This will prevent...
Whether you just want to taste a bite of raw hamburger or eat the whole patty raw, the microorganisms in raw hamburger can be very dangerous to your health. Eating raw hamburger places you at high risk for food poisoning, which can cause...
Makers of soda in the United States produce 10.4 billion gallons each year, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. That's enough for every American to drink one 12-ounce can every day. Too much soda in the American diet has been linked...
Food poisoning is the ingestion of food contaminated with disease-causing bacteria or viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 76 million cases of foodborne illness occur annually in the United States. A variety of...
Escherichia coli are healthy, rod-shaped, bacterial flora that populate the human digestive system within hours of birth. In 1885, German pediatrician Thomas Escherichia isolated the bacteria in the colons of newborns. These healthy bacteria...
Organic beef carries a heavy price tag and has a reputation among environmentalists and health food enthusiasts as the superior choice. While organic beef isn't vastly nutritionally different from traditionally grown beef, choosing it over...
Escherichia coli, or E. coli for short, is a type of bacteria that lives in your small intestine, usually without causing any problems. However, a few strains of E.coli, such as E. coli O157:H7, may contaminate your food and cause severe food...
Bacteria is often associated with disease and death, and for good reason. For centuries it was one of the leading causes of mortality around the world. Scientists have discovered thousands of different types of bacteria that live in and around...
The search for ways to preserve foods has taken on a new impetus in light of recent contamination of meat and vegetables with bacteria and fungi. At least five essential oils are of interest to the food industry as antibacterial treatments:...
According to the National Institutes of Health, cholesterol causes blockages in the arteries which can lead to heart attacks. Cholesterol is a waxy like substance that forms in the blood after eating fat. The highest cholesterol levels are found...
Bacterial infections in humans result from the invasion of a pathogenic, or disease-causing, form of bacteria. Typically picked up from the environment or other infected people, bacterial infections can cause problems ranging from mild to severe....
The U.S. Food Safety Inspection Service says that any food that comes from an animal can be full of bacteria. Possible bacteria include Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E-coli), Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Campylobacter...
Food poisoning, which is also called foodborne illness, can cause many flu-like symptoms, including fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Bacteria are a common cause of foodborne illnesses, and the particular characteristics of the disease can...
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the water people consume--including bottled water--can realistically be expected to contain at least a slight amount of certain contaminants. The EPA is in charge of setting standards for...
As newborn infants take their first feeding, bacteria are introduced into the bowels. Throughout life, a range of bacteria collectively known as the normal flora inhabits the bowels. Dr. Kenneth Todar notes in his electronic reference, "Todar's...
Your hands are your primary way of physically interacting with the world around you. As you touch things, you pick up germs. When your hands then touch your face or food, you may inadvertently introduce disease-causing germs into your body. Hand...
Escherichia coli, more commonly shortened to E coli, is one of the most common types of bacterial food poisoning and the most common causes of traveler's diarrhea, the U.S. National Library of Medicine says. E coli enteritis is the result of...
Renal failure is kidney failure, or when the kidneys fail to function well enough to filter waste products and remove excess water from the body via the bloodstream. Kidney failure leads to retention of water and the buildup of waste that can...
Coliform refers to bacteria that are found in the gut of humans and animals, as well as soil and water. These bacteria are also known as Enterobacteria, and are rod-shaped and reside in the digestive tract. When they come in contact with water or...
