--- title: Why E. coli outbreaks happen in more than just beef date: 2023-07-12T11:59:00-07:00 author: Julie Dueck canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/why-e-coli-outbreaks-happen-not-just-in-beef" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Case News](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news) / # Why E. coli outbreaks happen in more than just beef *E. coli* O157:H7 is one of thousands of serotypes of Escherichia coli. *E. coli* O157:H7 was first recognized as a pathogen in 1982 during an investigation into an outbreak of hemorrhagic colitis associated with consumption of hamburgers from McDonald's. For many years, most recognized STEC outbreaks were associated with STEC O157. Despite the dominance of STEC O157, at least 150 non-O157 strains of *E. coli* are known to cause human illness and have been associated with outbreaks. Although foods of bovine origin are the most common cause of both outbreaks and sporadic cases of *E. coli* O157:H7 infections, outbreaks of illnesses have been linked to a wide variety of food items. For example, produce has been the source of substantial numbers of outbreak-related *E. coli* O157:H7 infections since at least 1991. Outbreaks have been linked to alfalfa, clover and radish sprouts, lettuce, and spinach. Other vehicles for outbreaks include unpasteurized juices, yogurt, dried salami, mayonnaise, raw milk, game meats, hazelnuts, and raw cookie dough. *E. coli* O157:H7 bacteria and other pathogenic *E. coli* mostly live in the intestines of cattle, but *E. coli* bacteria have also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, and pigs. A 2003 study on the prevalence of *E. coli* O157:H7 in livestock at 29 county and three large state agricultural fairs in the U.S. found that *E. coli* O157:H7 could be isolated from 13.8 percent of beef cattle, 5.9 percent of dairy cattle, 3.6 percent of pigs, 5.2 percent of sheep, and 2.8 percent of goats. Over seven percent of pest fly pools also tested positive for *E. coli* O157:H7. Shiga toxin-producing *E. coli* does not make the animals that carry it ill. The animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria. What makes *E. coli* O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC remarkably dangerous is its very low infectious dose and how relatively difficult it is to kill these bacteria. “*E. coli* O157:H7 in ground beef that is only slightly undercooked can result in infection.” As few as 20 organisms may be sufficient to infect a person and, as a result, possibly kill them. And unlike generic *E. coli*, the O157:H7 serotype multiplies at temperatures up to 44 degrees Fahrenheit, survives freezing and thawing, is heat resistant, grows at temperatures up to 111 degrees Fahrenheit, resists drying, and can survive exposure to acidic environments. And, finally, *E. coli* O157:H7 bacteria are easily transmitted by person-to-person contact. Since there is no fail-safe food safety program, consumers need to “drive defensively” as they navigate from the market to the table. It is no longer enough to take precautions only with ground beef and hamburgers; anything ingested by family members can be a vehicle for infection. Shiga toxin-producing *E. coli* are so widely disseminated that a wide variety of foods can be contaminated. Direct animal-to-person and person-to-person transmission is not uncommon. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen House Restaurants](https://marlerclark.com/e-coli-outbreak-tied-to-red-cow-and-hen-house-restaurants) [Rockwood Summit High School E. coli 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