the use of horse manure as fertilizer

[Dr_Redwine]

Interesting topic. I heard that the E. Coli deal was traced back to the irrigation somehow. I could see how that could have been contaminated by pigs if they were using surface ponds for a water source.

As for the original topic, right or wrong, I compost horse manure for a couple of reasons. First, I think I am reducing the weed seeds in it by destroying them with heat, and second, it usually has sawdust or shavings mixed in that I want to break down ahead of incorporating into my ground. Shavings and/or sawdust are straight carbon sources that will create an uptake of my soil's nitrogen if directly incorporated and allowed to break down.

About ten years ago, I hauled in some cow manure from a local pasture and tilled it in. I've been fighting pig weed ever since and wished I had composted it first.

DrR

[Lilypon]

Here's some information I found when researching this for another forum:

Analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 survival in ovine or bovine manure and manure slurry. Indira T. Kudva, Kathryn Blanch and Carolyn J. Hovde.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology v64.n9 (Sept 1998): pp3166(9).


Abstract:

Research was conducted to examine the survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the manures of cattle and sheep exposed to fluctuating environmental conditions and in experimentally inoculated manure. E. coli O157:H7 was found to survive for over one year in a nonaerated ovine manure pile exposed to environmental conditions. It survived for four months and 47 days for aerated ovine manure and bovine manure, respectively.


Source Citation: Kudva, Indira T., Kathryn Blanch, and Carolyn J. Hovde. "Analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 survival in ovine or bovine manure and manure slurry." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 64.n9 (Sept 1998): 3166(9). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale.
.

[Lilypon]

I also found this (it deals mainly with goats) but it does list the other animals Escherichia coli O157: H7 has been found in (including horses). It also has a bibliography of it's sources so those that are interested can do further research.


Detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in fecal samples in meat goats. Ray Mobley, Uford Madden and Alexis Brooks-Walter.
Education 124.3 (Spring 2004) p439 .


Subjects

Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2004 Project Innovation (Alabama)

INTRODUCTION

Pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) is recognized as one of the most important food borne human pathogens (Anonymous, 1994; Cray, & Moon, 1995, FDA/CFSAN, 1992). Specifically, E. coli O157: H7 was responsible for 17 of the reported 24 cases of food borne illness in humans in the United States between 1982 and 1993 (Anonymous, 1994; Cray & Moon, 1995). Reed and Kaplan, in 1996, estimated 10,000 to 20,000 cases of E. coli O157:H7 infections occurred annually with 500 deaths (Ohio State University Fact Sheet; Reed & Kaplin, 1996). In 2001, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that E. coli O157:H7 causes 73,000 cases of diarrheal illnesses each year (ARS, 2001).

Although the organism is primarily detected in cattle and sheep, it has also been found in water, raw milk, unpasteurized apple juice, lettuce, sprouts, and yogurt (Agard, Alexander et al, 2002; Dev, Main, and Gould, 1991; Luedtke & Powell, 2002; Samadpour et al, 2002; Savell, & Smith, 2000; Wang & Doyle, 1998). In the United States over the past decade, the number of cases of human foodborne illnesses related to consumption of beef, and fresh produce has increased (FDA/CFSAN; 1992, Luedtke & Powell, 2002). E. coli O157: H7 is a gram-negative bacterium that has principally been found in the digestive tract of cattle and sheep, but has been isolated from other animals including deer, horses, dogs and birds. Feces from theses animals may be the potential primary source for E. coli O157:H7 contamination of numerous food products (Kudva, Blanch, & Hovde, 1998). E. coli O157: H7 has also been isolated from pork, lamb and poultry products (Cray & Moon, 1995; Doyle & Schoeni, 1987).

The bacterium is transmitted to food products primarily through the fecal-oral route or by cross-contamination. This occurs when the organism is deposited in the food from direct or cross contamination during slaughter, processing and preparation. Kudva et al (1998) conducted a study in which cattle and sheep manure was inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 to determine survivability. The study found that the bacterium survived in sheep manure for 21 months and positive culture was found in bovine manure at 47 days. The bacterium in bovine manure frozen at -20[degrees]C survived for at least 100 days, whereas it survived for 100 days in bovine manure incubated at 4[degrees]C or 10[degrees]C (Keene et al, 1997; Kudva, Blanch, & Hovde, 1998; Rice, Hancock & Besser, 1995; U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Inspection Service, 1997; Wallace, Cheasty & Jones, 1997). Feeding studies involving human volunteers indicated that colonization of the small intestine may require a large dose (100 million to 10 billion bacteria) of enterotoxigenic E. coli (FDA/CFSAN). The organism is however known to be very virulent and may require as low an infectious dose of less than 100 cfu. In dairy herds, the prevalence and mechanism of transmission of E. coli O157: H7 are poorly understood (Samadpour, Ongerth & Liston, 1990).

The long-term survival of the bacterium in manure also raises concerns for goat feces to serve as a primary source of contamination of goat meat and goat meat products. There have been limited studies conducted to determine the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in goats and sufficient quantities to cause illness. The consumption of goat meat is increasing and is expected to become a significant alternative food source in the United States. Goat milk and goat milk products are used instead of cow's milk by many lactose intolerant consumers, particularly, black infants who cannot digest regular cow's milk. Therefore, there is a need to determine if this organism will constitute a significant hazard for meat and milk products from this species. The purpose of this study was to determine if E. coli O157:H7 is a naturally occurring bacterium in goats and to determine the prevalence of the organism and the related food safety risks that may be associated with the production and consumption of goat meat, and goat meat products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Selection of herds and animals. Twelve meat goat herds were randomly selected from a list of producers in the North Florida area provided by the Meat Goat Breeders Association. Farm visits were made to observe the herds for general health and obtain the approval of the producers for the study. Five mature animals were selected per herd or 10% of the adult herd, depending on herd size. Specific information regarding tag or identifying features, background management practices, and general medical condition of each goat was recorded.

Sample collection. Samples were obtained from each animal by digital rectal extraction using sterilized gloves to avoid cross-contamination. Each sample was immediately placed in sterile collection tubes containing 15 ml of Cary-Blair medium (Remel Co., Lenexa, Kans.) and kept cold (4[degrees]C) with frozen ice packs. The samples were taken to the laboratory for microbiological analysis using standard isolation, culture and identification techniques within 24 to 72 hours of rectal retrieval (Samadpour, Ongerth, & Liston, 1990). All herds were sampled between September 2001 and April 2002. A general physical examination of each animal was conducted at the time of sampling to determine if there were differences in clinical signs and symptoms observed in positive versus non-positive animals. Samples were numbered to correspond with the animals and herds from which the samples were taken.

Microbial Analysis. Each fecal sample was weighed, placed in 10 ml nutrient broth and serially diluted. Duplicates of each sample were plated on the surface of sorbitol MacConkey (SMAC), nutrient and Rainbow Agar (Biolog, Hayward, CA) plates. All plates were incubated at 37[degrees]C for 24 hours (Samadpour, Ongerth, & Liston, 1990). Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157: H7 ferments sorbitol slower than other species and appears colorless on SMAC plates. Rainbow Agar is designed for identification of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157: H7, which forms black colonies, while others appear mauve, red or pink. Colonies that were non-sorbitol fermenting (colorless on SMAC) and dark purple/black on Rainbow Agar were considered to be enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157: H7. These tests were then duplicated with individually isolated colonies to reconfirm the results. The total number of bacteria was calculated as colony forming units per gram feces.

Statistical analysis. The dam were analyzed by ANOVA procedure utilizing SAS software package Windows Version 8. 2001 (SAS Institute Cary, NC) (19). Differences in means of populations of E. coli and E. coli O157:H7 detected in meat goat fecal samples were separated by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at the 0.05 level of significance.

RESULTS

A total of 68 fecal samples from 12 meat goat herds in North Central Florida were tested for E. coli O157: H7 (Table 1). Nine of the 12 herds (75%) tested were positive for E. coli O157: H7 and 3 herds (25%) were negative. Thirty of the 68 fecal samples (44%) were positive for E. coli O157: H7 (Table 1). Five of 5 samples (100%) from herd 7, 7 of 8 samples (88%) from herd 2, and 2 of 5 samples (80%) from herd 8 were positive for the bacterium. Herds 9 and 10 had 3 of 5 samples (60%), herd 3 had 4 of 8 samples (50%), herd 12 had 2 of 5 samples (40%), herd 6 had 1 of 5 samples (20%), and herd 1 had 1 of 7 samples (14%) positive for E. coli O157:H7 respectively. Detection of the bacterium in fecal samples for the meat goat herds ranged from 14 to 100% (Table 1).

JPEGF

The total population of E. coli O157:H7 detected in meat goat herds ranged from 1.7 x [10.sup.6] cfu/g feces to 1.0 x [10.sup.10] cfu/g feces. The mean population of E. coli O157:H7 detected in meat goat herds ranged from 1.7 x [10.sup.6] cfu/g feces to 2.5 x 109 cfu/g feces (Fig. 1). The populations of E. coli O157:H7 detected in goat fecal samples ranged from 3 to 87%. Fecal samples from herds 2, 3, 9, 10, and 12 had E. coli O157:H7 populations ranging from 20 to 87% (Table 1). The populations of E. coli O157:H7 detected in feces from meat goat herds were not significantly different (p> 0.05) from each other. No increase in clinical symptoms was observed in goats with positive or negative E. coli O157:H7.

DISCUSSION

The results of this study indicated that E. coli O157: H7 was detected in feces from 75% of meat goat herds tested. Garber et al. (1996) reported that in pre-weaned calves, 1.8% of the herds had fecal samples with E. coli O157: H7 (Samadpour, Ongerth, & Liston, 1990; and Samadpour et al., 2002). Our study further suggests that this organism can be present in the digestive tracts and feces of goats and may be a potential primary source for E. coli O157: H7 contamination of goat meat and goat meat products from fecal contamination. This study was done over a six-month period and additional sampling will need to be done to determine if there is a seasonal influence on prevalence of the organism. Published reports have suggested young dairy animals to be the primary host of the organism (Cray & Moon, 1995; Samadpour, Ongerth, Liston, 1990). Studies in beef cattle showed 8 of 52 (15%) and in dairy cattle, 11 of 51 (22%) fecal samples tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) with an overall prevalence of 19 of 103 (18.4%). Samadpour et al. 1990 found 9 of 28 (30%) fecal samples from calves positive for STEC (Savell & Smith, 2000; U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 1997)

Cattle and sheep are reservoirs of E. coli O157: H7 but other animals including deer, horses, dogs, and birds may be the potential primary sources for O157: H7 contamination of numerous food products (FDA/CFSAN; Garber et al, 1995; Keene et al, 1997; Kudva, Blanch, & Hovde, 1998; Rice, Hancock, and Besser, 1995). Our study suggests that the quantity of bacteria detected (1.7 x [10.sup.6] to 1.0 x [10.sup.10] cfu/g) in fecal samples from meat goat herds may be sufficient to also cause potential foodborne illness in exposed humans if contaminated goat meat is consumed.

Detection of O157: H7 populations in feces from meat goat herds in this study suggests that the production and processing of goat meat may carry a significant risk of O157: H7 contamination. This preliminary data indicate that preventive food safety programs would need to be implemented to control food borne illness that may be acquired from the consumption of goat meat products. Specifically, on-farm and processor level food safety programs may aid in the reduction of on farm risk of O157: H7 contamination.

As the importance and acceptance of goat products increase, so will the need to increase food safety awareness. Increased education of producers, as well as the public, will need to be implemented in order to reduce the risks of foodborne illnesses attributed to goat production and consumption caused by this organism. The results obtained in this study suggest a need for more extensive studies. This research will be expanded to include sampling at more farms and at processing facilities. Furthermore, it is anticipated that molecular techniques will be used to verify the specific type of present.

Table 1
Detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in fecal samples (a)
from meat goat herds in North Central Florida.

No. of No. positive % positive %
Herd Herd Animals for E. coli for E. coli E. coli
Number Size Tested O157: H7 O157: H7 O157: H7

1 80 7 1 14 5
2 100 8 7 80 20
3 80 8 4 50 27
4 50 5 0 0 0
5 50 5 0 0 0
6 15 5 1 20 10
7 60 5 5 100 3
8 40 5 4 80 74
9 60 5 3 60 10
10 40 5 3 60 21
11 50 5 0 0 0
12 30 5 2 40 1

Total 675 68 30 44

(a) Fecal samples were taken between September 2001 and April 2002
from meat goat herds in North Central Florida. No. = number of samples
tested or positive; % E. coli O157: H7 = percent E. coli O157: H7
calculated from the total population of E. coli detected in each fecal
sample.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was partially supported by a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture through a cooperative agreement with Florida A&M University (FAMU). FAMU is an 1890 Land-grant Institution dedicated to teaching, research and extension/outreach. We thank Mr. Gilbert Queeley for statistical assistance and the Director of Extension and Outreach Program, Dr. Lawrence Carter, Associate Dean for Cooperative Extension and Dr. Bobby R. Phills, Director and Dean of Land-grant Programs for their support for this project.

REFERENCES

(1.) Agard, L., Alexander, C., Green, S., Jackson, M., Patel, S., and Adesiyun, A. (2002). Microbial Quality of water supply to an urban community in Trinidad. Journal of Food Protection. 65: 1297-1303.

(2.) Anonymous. (1994). Escherichia coli O157: H7 issues and ramifications. United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: Veterinary Service Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, Colo.

(3.) Agriculture Research Service. (2001). Reducing Salmonella and O157:H7 at the farm. ARS News and Information.

(4.) CDC. (2001). Escherichia coli O157: H7. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

(5.) Cray, W.C. Jr. and Moon, H.W., (1995). Experimental Infection of Calves and Adult Cattle with Escherichia coli O157: H7. Applied Environmental Microbiology. Vol. 61 (4): 1586-1590.

(6.) Damron, W.S., (2000). Introduction to Animal Science: Global, Biological, Social and Industry Perspectives. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ.

(7.) Dev, V., Main, M, and Gould, I,. (1991). Waterborne outbreak of Escherichia coli O157: H7. Lancet 337:1412.

(8.) Doyle M.P. and Schoeni, JL., (1987). Isolation of Escherichia coli O157: H7 from retail fresh meats and poultry. Applied Environmental Microbiology 53:2394-2396

(9.) FDA/CFSAN (1992). Escherichia coli O157: H7. Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.

(10.) FDA/CFSAN. (1992). Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins Handbook. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition.

(11.) Garber, L., Wells, S., Hancock, D., Doyle, M., Shere, J., and Zhao T., (1995). Escherichia coli O157: H7 in dairy heifers: Results of a case-control study. Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association. 1290-1293.

(12.) Keene, W.E., Suzie, E., Kirk, J., Rice, D.H., Hancock, D.D., Balan, V.K., Zhao, T., and Doyle, M.P., (1997). An outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection traced to jerky made from deer meat. Journal American Medical Association 277: 1229-1231.

(13.) Kudva, I.T., Blanch, K., and Hovde, C., (1998). Analysis of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in ovine or bovine manure and manure slurry. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 3166-3174.

(14.) Luedtke, A.N. and Powell, D.A., (2002). A review of North American apple cider-associated outbreaks, media coverage and a comparative analysis of Ontario apple cider producer's information sources and production practices. Dairy Food Environmental Sanitation, 22(8): 590-598.

(15.) Ohio State University Fact Sheet.(1998). What you should know about Escherichia coli O157: H7. HYG, 5561-98. . 209:1213.

(16.) Rice, D.H., Hancock, D.D., and Besser, T.E,. (1995). Verotoxigenic O157:H7 Colonization of wild deer and range cattle. Veterinary Research 137:524.

(17.) Samadpour, M., Ongerth, J.E., and Liston, J., (1990). Development and evaluation of oligonucletide DNA probes for detection and genotyping of Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli. Journal of Food Protection 57: 399-402.

(18.) Samadpour, M., Kubler, M., Buck, F.C., Depavia, G.A., Mazengia, E., Stewart, J., Yang, P., and Alfi, D. (2002). Prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in ground beef and cattle feces from King County, Washington. Journal of Food Protection 65(8): 1322-1325.

(19.) SAS. (2001). SAS Windows Version 8. SAS Institute Cary, NC.

(20.) Savell, J.W. and Smith, G.G., (2000). Meat Science: Laboratory Manual, 7th ed. American Press, Boston. MA.

(21.) Swerdlow, D.L., Woodruff, B.A., and Brady, R.C., (1992). A waterborne outbreak in Missouri of Escherichia coli O157: H7 associated with bloody diarrhea and death. Annuals of Internal Medicine. 117:812-819.

(22.) U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (1997). An update: Escherichia coli O157:H7 in humans and cattle. Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Fort Collins, Colo.

(23.) Wallace, J.S., Cheasty, T., and Jones, K., (1997). Isolation of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from wild birds. Journal of Applied Microbiology. 82:399-404.

(24.) Wang, G. and Doyle, M.P., (1998). Survival of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: H7 in water. Journal of Food Protection 61:662-667.

(25.) Zhao, T., Doyle, M.P., Shere, J., and Garber, L., (1995). Prevalence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: H7 in survey of dairy herds. Applied Environmental Microbiology 1290-1293.

RAY MOBLEY

UFORD MADDEN

Cooperative Extension and Outreach Program

College of Engineering Sciences Technology and Agriculture

ALEXIS BROOKS-WALTER

Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences

Florida A & M University

Source Citation: Mobley, Ray, Uford Madden, and Alexis Brooks-Walter. "Detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in fecal samples in meat goats." Education 124.3 (Spring 2004): 439(8). Expanded Academic ASAP. Thomson Gale. SASKATCHEWAN PROVINCIAL LIBRARY. 22 Sep. 2006

[Gimme3]

Lilypon..i so much Appreciate...reading this post. Over and Over...)))

Now is the Time...if Scientists truly can, as believed...to Make Known....new learnings...Disseminate !....Dont Hide...nor gloss...biological learnings. We aint fools, we can understand, if they simply...try an tell us...

Theres much more to the subject of E. Coli...an theres Powerful Monetary Interests...i believe....that steer...release of data.

For Once...i wished...a Scientist...would have...a Hypocrthic(spelling ? ) Oath...jus a like a Doctor swears to.

Would ya think i was paranoid, if i said...i believe the USDA already knows...the entire life cycle of E. Coli, and how...to minimize and render it a non-factor ?

All i look for...is Truth. An i got no prob w/honest mistakes. Lord knows i've made a pile of em, myself. But to deny, sequester..Truth...when known...is tantamount to Guilty by assention.

I harvest deer manure at least twice a week...i incorporate it into my soils. This topic...builds my normally LOW...lol...blood pressure...)))

Please post More...as found out about, an TY, Lilypon...)))

[Lilypon]

I think many of the professionals here at Tomatoville were right on regarding precautions to take when dealing with manure, raw vegetables, etc.

The precautions listed below are from the above mentioned Ohio Fact Sheet:

What are the best temperatures to cook meat and poultry?

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) alerts consumers that it is unreliable to determine by its color if meat is cooked. It recommends using thermometers to take the internal temperature of the meat. The director of FSIS advises cooking meats and poultry until they reach internal temperatures of:

* 160 degrees F for ground beef
* 145 degrees F , rare; 160 degrees F, medium; and 170 degrees F, well done; for beef, roasts, and chops
* 160 degrees F, medium; 170 degrees F, well done; for pork roasts, steak, and chops
* 180 degrees F for whole chicken or turkey
* 170 degrees F for breasts of chicken (FSIS, 1997)

What further precautions can you take?

In addition to proper handwashing, follow these recommendations to reduce the risk of an E. coli 0157:H7 infection:

* cook ground beef and venison (minimum 160 degrees F internal temperature) before eating
* drink only pasteurized milk and apple juice
* wash fresh fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating
* do not use manure from ruminants to fertilize vegetables and fruits
* avoid drinking from lakes or ponds used by cattle and drinking surface water that has not been properly treated to eliminate pathogens

For further information on Food Safety, call your local county Extension office, or call USDA's national hotline for Meat and Poultry at 1-800-535-4555 (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time) or visit the FSIS web site: http://www.usda.gov/fsis.
References

Buchanan, Robert L. and M. P. Doyle. 1997. Foodborne Disease Significance of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and other Entrohemorrhagic E. coli. Food Technology 51: 69-75.

Collins, Janet E. 1997. Impact of Changing Consumer Lifestyles on the Emergence/Reemergence of Foodborne Pathogens. Emerging Infectious Diseases 3(4): n. pag. Online. Internet. 23 Feb. 1998. Available: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol3no4/collins.html.

FSIS: USDA Advises Consumers to Use a Thermometer when Cooking Hamburger. 1997. n. pag. Online. Internet. 26 Feb. 1998. Available: http://www/usda.gov/agency/fsis/thermopr.html.

Kendrick, Kathleen E. and E. A. Wrobel-Woerner. 1997. Identification of Enteric Bacteria by Using Metabolic Characteristics: An Excerpt from a Bulletin Published by the Centers for Disease Control. Microbiology 520 AU '97 Laboratory Manual.

Reed, Craig A. and B. Kaplan. 1996. S.O.S. ... HELP prevent E. coli 0157:H7 ... et al! Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209:1213.

I personally use cow manure for fertilizing my garden but have always used well rotted manure (it's been turned and aged at least 3 years). My supplier has a large herd so getting aged manure isn't difficult. Composted manure, as mentioned by those who previously posted, provides both the high heat and aeration (by regularly turning it) that would be needed to kill e-coli.

[Gimme3]

Many Thanks...Lilypon...

I'm gone say...whats on my mind.

I aint a Scientist.
I'm a Organic Grower of vegetables....FOOD.

Tell me...first of all...where did E. Coli come from ?

an dont hinge around the Truth. If mono-culture farming is the cause or agent for it's fairly newborn resurgence...then dam well explain an admit it . If it aint....then tell me...what IS ?

Because....organic growers could just as easily make a mistake, an i aint talkin bout pseudo-organic practioners on a corporate level. I'm talkin about the small, honest grower, that Believes in...the Virtue...of natural waste from Nature.

I wanna hear an learn....how does E. Coli at first....migrate into a new landscape ? How...is it perpetuated ? How...is it's prescence neautralized ? And even more importantly..how can we adopt Sanitary measures....that are confident in absolute destruction of it ?

Horse manure was the Original question. I know we aint still talkin about that...but ...the Concept, originally posed....is the Same.

All this twisted...herewecomefromyonder info...has got me leanin highly....towards goin ahead and establishin some Chicken and rabbit Homes.

I long for...Accurate...E. Coli information.

[Gimme3]

Seven People...in the Hospital...w/kidney failure.

Do ya think...we'll hear or be informed...Truthfully ?

Our Government is still Payin...to this Day, for usin Agent Orange. It took 30 years...to bring about...a little Justice.It took my Life time...to once again see...the Flourishment of raptors. Kudo's....to the Scientists that Boldly stood up an said "DDT is Prevalent, not short-lifed"
How many years is it gonna Take...to see the crumbling of corporate BS regarding the manner that a dangerous an harmful form of E. Coli is not only allowed to remain, thru practice of growth and cultivation, but also veiled under the thin cloak of mysterious wild native animals ?

Once again...Truth...is side-stepped. It happens so much, these days, its gettin to be casual.

Im all for...HAMMERIN these grant-funded institutions....to lay it on The Line. Forget funding source... Tell the DAM TRUTH.

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by Gimme3

Tell me...first of all...where did E. Coli come from ?

The stomachs and digestive systems of pretty much all life on earth.

[landarc]

Gimme,
If I remember my biology correctly, pretty much, E. coli occurs in the digestive tracks of most living creatures. I seem to recall that there are many different strains or types of E. coli out there also. The problem becomes when the little critters escape into other areas of the body. Much like blood, it is only supposed to be where it belongs. It's presence in produce is a function of natural deposit or poor handling in some other manner. It is not a monocultural or industrial farming issue. In some areas, what we came to know as 'night fertilizer' is still used in a direct or indirect way that can result in contamination just as easily as cross contamination from fertilizer.

One of the things to remember is that sewers and storm drains also flow into our water sources, E. coli does not only have to come from critters, it can come from us. Fact was, back when I cooked for a living, E. coli was moslty caused in restaurants by poor sanitation in restaurant bathrooms.

Again, I always wash all my produce. Even the prewashed stuff. I always wash my hands before handling food. I use a fresh towel for my hands when preparing food to be eaten raw.