Wellness Wednesday

Make Sure to Take All the Steps When Eating Healthy

Sometimes Eating Healthy Can Get You Sick

E. Coli outbreaks seem to happen often, whether they originate at a Chipotle, Taco Bell, or various other grocery outlets. One common theme seems to bring all of these different outbreaks together: unwashed fresh ingredients such as lettuce or other similar produce. A recent outbreak in the UK has left two dead, and 150 more reeling from the illness. The cause is being traced back to a pre-packed salad mix (similar to the romaine lettuce E. Coli outbreak of 2011, ready to eat salad E. Coli Outbreak of 2013, and Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad Mix E. Coli outbreak of 2015) by UK authorities. These outbreaks beg the question: How can we prevent being infected by E. Coli, but still eat healthy produce such as salad and other vegetables? The following is a list of preventative measures from this website:

• Wash hand thoroughly after using the toilet, before and after handling food, and after handling animals.
• Remove any loose soil before storing salads and vegetables.
• Wash all vegetables and fruits that will be eaten raw.
• Store and prepare raw meat and unwashed vegetables away from ready-to-eat foods.
• Do not prepare raw vegetables with utensils that have also been used for raw meat.
• Cook all minced meat products,such as burgers and meatballs, thoroughly.
• People who have been ill should not prepare food for others for atleast 48 hours after they have recovered.