Pathogens
Everthing about Cryptosporidium,Escherichia Coli & Listeria
Cryptosporidium
Causes of Cryptosporidium
-Drinking contaminated water that contains Cryptosporidium parasites
Symptoms of Cryptosporidium
Symptoms of the cryptosporidium infection usually appear a week after being infected. Some symptoms may include:
- Watery diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Stomach cramps or pain
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Sometime, you don't have any symptoms at all. Symptoms can last up to two weeks, but they can come and go as long as a month, even with people who have completely healthy immune systems.
How to Prevent Cryptosporidium
- Practice good hygiene
- Thoroughly wash produce
- Avoid eating foods that you might think are contaminated
- Purify water (by boiling or filtering)
- Limit swimming activities
Escherichia Coli
Causes of Escherichia Coli
- Ground beef. When cattle are slaughtered and processed, E. coli bacteria in their intestines can get on the meat. Ground beef combines meat from many different animals, increasing the risk of contamination.
- Unpasteurized milk. E. coli bacteria can come from a cow's udder or on milking equipment that can get into raw milk.
- Fresh produce. Runoff from cattle farms can contaminate fields where fresh produce is grown. Certain vegetables, such as spinach and lettuce, are particularly open to this type of contamination.
The second way to get E.coli is from using contaminated water. It is possible for human and animal feces to pollute ground and surface water which including streams, rivers, lakes, etc.... Even though public water systems use a disinfecting systems to kill E. coli, private properties that get their water supplies from wells don't necessarily have a disinfecting system.
The third way to get E.coli is personal contact. E. coli can travel from person to person, especially when infected adults and children don't wash their hands properly. Family members that have young children with E.coli are likely to get it themselves. Outbreaks have also happen among people who visit petting zoos.
Symptoms of Escherichia Coli
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping, pain or tenderness
- Nausea and vomiting
Contact a doctor if diarrhea is severe.
How to Prevent Escherichia Coli
- Avoid eating high-risk foods, especially undercooked ground beef, unpasteurized milk or juice, soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, or alfalfa sprouts.
- Use a food thermometer to make sure that ground beef has reached a safe internal temperature of 160° F.
- Wash hands before preparing food
- Wash raw produce thoroughly
Listeria
Causes of Listeria
- Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from the soil
- Unpasteurized meat
- Unpasteurized milk
- Foods made with unpasteurized milk or meat
- Certain processed foods — such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and deli meats that have been contaminated after processing
Symptoms of Listeria
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Confusion or changes in alertness
- Loss of balance
- Convulsions
If in suspicion of eating contaminated food and experienced with any of the symptoms, contact doctor and seek care immediately.
How to Prevent Listeria
- Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk
- Do not eat foods that have unpasteurized milk products or meat products in them.
- Rinse produce thoroughly under water before eating.
- Keep uncooked meats, poultry, and seafood separate from vegetables, fruits, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods.
- Thoroughly cook food raw meat, poultry, or seafood
- Wash hands, knives, countertops, and cutting boards after handling and preparing uncooked foods.
- Consume perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.
- Persons in higher risk groups (people with weakened immune systems, elders, pregnant women) should heat hot dogs, cold cuts, and deli meats before eating them.
Ways to Prevent Pathogens on our Kitchen
- Wash hands, knives, countertops, and cutting boards after handling and preparing uncooked foods.
- Rinse raw produce thoroughly under running tap water before eating.
- Store foods properly to avoid cross contamination
- Practice good hygiene
- Keep foods at safe temperatures
- Avoid foods and water from unsafe sources
- Cook foods thoroughly
- Avoid Cross Contamination