Chapter 9 "What's in the Meat"

What of the effects of E. coli O517:H7 on the human body?

Although E. coli is a very serious illness, not all people infected with E. coli become ill. Other only suffer mild diarrhea. However, some people get severe abdominal cramps followed by watery, then bloody, diarrhea. This subsides within a week or so. In some cases, the diarrhea is accompanied by vomiting and a mild fever.



What kind of meat is selected for consumption in public schools?

Meat shipped to public schools in the '80's and '90's was horrible. Almost every time the beef failed the Salmonella tests. Many kids were sicked by E. coli in the beef sold to these schools. Nowadays, there are strict rules set by the USDA, almost ensuring that the meat the we eat is safe. However, the meat packing industry immediatly opposed these rules.