# What does e.coli mean to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-e-coli-mean-to-you/578363 "2011-04-14T13:22:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-e-coli-mean-to-you/578363/41 "2011-04-15T02:41:26Z")
E. Coli is found in feces, which can contaminate food/water, and infect people. People with poor hand washing skills can spread it, too. > [@Marc\_Xenos](#): > > #3, I’d never have associated with e. coli. We’ve always washed produce, if for nothing else, the dirt that it grew in. But also to remove any pesticides as well as simply other people handling it. In fact, I have doubts about e. coli adhering to produce, but the experts say otherwise. And I’m certainly no expert to argue with them. But cows have been shitting in rivers and lakes for centuries and we haven’t had national contaminations before. What’s changed? And I don’t mean since the 19th century, but only in the last 10 years of the 21st century? I’d guess it’s because the demand for leafy greens has skyrocketed in the last decade. Years ago, the bad lettuce would have infected people in the county it was grown in, but now, it’s getting shredded, mixed with other heads of lettuce, packed in cellophane bags, and shipped all over the country, to cause outbreaks in several states. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-e-coli-mean-to-you/578363/42 "2011-04-15T02:49:58Z")
> [@Gestalt](#): > > If someone asked you what the main way by which people become infected by _e. coli_ is, what would you say? > > I left the wording of the main question a little clumsy to avoid any bias in the actual language of the question. > > This is just to answer a question that came up between me and a friend. > > If you’re a health care professional, epidemiologist or have some specialized knowledge of microbiology and infection, please say so in your answer. > > Thanks! Why didn’t you just say: “How is e. coli infection transmitted?” Although I worked in pharmaceutical QA/QC for over 10 years I knew before that e. coli are intestinal flora, and e. coli infection is transmitted by contact with shit. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-e-coli-mean-to-you/578363/43 "2011-04-15T04:50:53Z")
I dunno. I just thought of the bacteria, not food poisoning or anything. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2011, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-e-coli-mean-to-you/578363/44 "2011-04-15T11:36:37Z")
e.coli is the reason that I cook my burgers all the way through. Jack-in-the box. 0157. Brr! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-e-coli-mean-to-you/578363.md?page=2)