¶ … outbreaks of E. Coli arising from inappropriate handling of food. In May, 2010, for instance, an Escolar outbreak forced the recall of lettuce in 23 U.S. States, most of it destined for supermarket and restaurant salad bars. This is critical in America today in which almost 50% of meals are prepared and eaten outside the home. So many different products are used to prepare meals in fast-food and convenience restaurants that there are any number of potential contaminants. In this particular case, the FDA is focusing its research on lettuce grown in Arizona. At least 12 people were hospitalized and another 10 cases with probable cause-based specifically on romaine lettuce (Memmott, 2010). Analysis- I remembered that in the early 1990s there was an E. coli outbreak based on food from Jack in the Box, actually causing children to die. I did some research, finding that 400 people were...

In the research, I also found that the same pathogen was found in 1996 in Odwalla juice (apple). One child died and 60 people were infected, but in this case, the company ordered a complete recall of all its products that might even have a hint of apple juice, costing them almost $7 million dollars, but completed within 48 hours. Unlike Jack in the Box, Odwalla went directly on television to express sympathy and a promise that the company would pay 100% of all medical costs (Baker, 2002). The pathogen E. Coli is around us constantly, and with the amount of food that is consumed without adequate care, can be a huge public health issue.
Scientific Name -- Escherichia coli (E. coli)

Pathogen Description -- E.coli is a gram-negative bacterium that is common…