How To Prevent E. Coli
You will probably have heard about the recent outbreak of E. coli in the US which killed at least 3 people and infected around 200. Most of these people were hospitalised and some suffered kidney failure. The outbreak was traced to organic spinach sold in plastic bags which was probably contaminated by animal manure.
There is not a lot you can do to prevent getting infected with this disease by contaminated greens. The most you can do is wash the greens well (even if they have been washed before packaged) and cook them at a high temperature. Of course, spinach and lettuce is often eaten raw so you are taking your chances a little but this kind of serious contamination isn’t that common.
Eating home grown vegetables is a good idea but is not without risk. This article provides good tips on how to prevent E. coli from getting into your food from your home garden. Some of these tips include:
- Avoid Home Composted Manure
Manure must be heated to a temperature of at least 140 degrees to kill such pathogens as E. coli, and there’s no guarantee that backyard compost piles will reach that temperature through the natural decomposition process, which does give off heat. “Even if they do,” says Dr. LaBorde, “they might just get hot enough at the center and not around the edges.” Instead, he recommends composting leaves, grass clippings and other greens.
So it looks like it’s best to stick to using plant materials in your compost. If you want to use animal manure on your garden it is safest to buy manure from your local garden centre which has met certain standards and has been heat sterilised.
- Wear Protective Gloves and a Mask
Wearing gloves when applying compost and fertilizers and wearing a dust mask when you apply powdered fertilizers are simple, inexpensive precautions that should be routine for gardeners.
- Hygiene Matters
“The much larger hazard is cross-contamination in the kitchen,” says Dr. LaBorde. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and fresh vegetables. To keep your harvest safe, wash your hands with soap and water when you come in from the garden, and then rinse produce thoroughly.
- Protect Your Children
Kids love to help with the harvest, but as LaBorde points out, “There’s no telling what’s on their hands.” Children and those with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to E. coli infection, making it all the more important that they wash their hands and use gloves in the garden.
In summary, the best way to protect yourself and your family is to:
- Wear gloves in the garden.
- Wear a mask when using fertiliser such as blood and bone.
- Be careful (or avoid) using animal manures on your vegetables.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and water.
However, it is worth remembering this (as pointed out on Garden Rant):
There are probably far more health hazards lurking on your kitchen counter than there are in your garden.
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