World’s Most Terrible Food Scares

An alarming E-coli outbreak hit some countries in the Europe, causing 17 deaths and more than 3,000 ill cases. According to Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, professor of epidemiology and health sciences at the University of Washington School of Public Health, the strain of E. Coli seemed to be particularly virulent and also antibiotic resistant.

The European E. Coli outbreak reminds us about dangerous bacteria behind some of the most terrible food scares through the years such as Listeria, hepatitis A, botulism and typhoid, etc.

For instance, about 15,900 pounds of deli meat products were recalled by Rose & Shore Meat Co. from Vernon, California, earlier in 2011, due to a Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Botulism - Home-Canned Jalapeños

The botulism outbreak that occurred most widely in Michigan in 1777 was caused by hot sauce made from improperly home-canned jalapeño peppers. Fortunately, no one in a total of 59 infected cases died

Listeria - Deli Meat

About 15,900 pounds of deli meat products were recalled by Rose & Shore Meat Co. from Vernon, California, earlier in 2011 due to a Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The issue was only discovered until a consumer complained about the meat and it was tested

E. Coli - Taco Bell

The outbreak of E. coli in the United States in 2006 was caused by iceberg lettuce contaminated fecal matter. Two fast food chains delivered the vegetable were Taco John's and Taco Bell. More than 120 people in six states fell ill after eating at Taco Bell

Typhoid - Corned Beef

During 1964, 500 people in Scotlandput were taken to the hospital for emergency due to a typhoid epidemic, which was allegedly caused by a six-pound can of Argentinian corned beef

E. Coli - Ground Beef

In late 2008, two people died and 26 others fell ill after they ate ground beef that had been contaminated with E. coli. It was said that the case was related to the recall of 546,000 pounds of ground beef sold by Fairbanks Farms in Asheville, New York

Hoof-and-Mouth - South Korea

Early in 2011, South Korea had to face with its most serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which led to an attempt to cull more than 3 million livestock. That’s why the amount of imported American beef and pork has since risen sharply in the country

E. Coli - Spinach

Another outbreak of E. coli occurring in 2006 led to three deaths and 199 ill cases. It was caused by bagged fresh spinach that traced back to one company in California

Hepatitis A - Chi-Chi’s Green Onions

In 2003, three people died and more than 600 infections in the America’s largest outbreak of hepatitis A that was caused by Pennsylvanian Chi-Chi’s green onions. The victims ate the onions through the salsa or cheese dip

Salmonella - Jalapeño Peppers

More than 1,200 cases were reportedly attacked by salmonella in 42 states of the US between April and June of 2008. The Mexican jalapeño peppers at a distribution center in Texas was likely the cause for most of the infections

European E. Coli Outbreak Is Among World’s Most Terrible Food Scares