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In May and June 2024, a major E. coli outbreak struck the UK, causing concern nationwide. This outbreak was caused by a specific type of bacteria known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145.
Over 270 people were affected, experiencing symptoms such as severe stomach cramps and bloody diarrhoea, with some cases leading to serious kidney issues. Of those 270 people known to have been affected, two people died, and over 120, including children as young as six, were hospitalised!
E. coli O145 is a harmful strain of the E. coli bacteria that produces Shiga toxin, which can lead to severe health problems. Unlike some other common E. coli strains which are associated with undercooked meat, E. coli O145 can affected produce, in this case due to contamination by what is believed to be animal faeces.
The E. coli O145 bacteria made its way into food through lettuce, in ready-to-eat sandwiches and salads, making it easy for many people to be exposed.
The outbreak investigation suggested that the contamination began at the farm level, possibly due to animal waste contaminating the lettuce fields. This is why it’s so crucial to maintain strict hygiene on farms, especially where fresh produce is grown. The lettuce was not washed properly before being used in the premade salads and sandwiches!
Once government health officials identified the source of the outbreak, food suppliers recalled the affected products to stop more people from getting sick. They’ve also increased inspections to ensure other products are safe, hoping to prevent this kind of outbreak from happening again.
When dealing with fresh produce, wash it thoroughly before eating. If it’s pre-packaged, like the sandwiches that caused this outbreak, you should normally be safe if manufacturers follow the strict food hygiene guideless that they are supposed to follow.
However, as a consumer, you might understandably now have trust issues with regards to pre-packaged foods. Maybe you’re starting to doubt that manufacturers will always maintain the high hygiene that they are supposed to. In such case, the only sure-fire way to protect yourself completely is to always wash your own produce yourself, instead of relying on manufacturers to do it, even if this means no more shop-bought sandwiches!
