Fast food soda fountains can be contaminated with coliform bacteria, which are found in feces and can be an indication of water contamination, according to a new study. The study was conducted at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California and was published in Water Supply, the International Water Association's peer-reviewed journal. Researchers found the microbial contamination in common sources of drinking water in the Eastern Coachella Valley, including the soda fountains. The findings showed that 41% of the water samples from those fountains contained coliform bacteria. In addition, molecular analysis of the samples found traces of genetic material from bacteria, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study's authors are advising soda fountain … [Read more...]
How Many Outbreaks Are Linked to Fast Food Restaurants?
In the past ten years, there have been many food poisoning outbreaks linked to fast food restaurants. The outbreaks slowed significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, however. This year, there was only one fast food outbreak that was allegedly associated with Wendy's restaurants in several states that may have been caused by romaine lettuce. These outbreaks can be very large simply because there are so many restaurants in these fast food chains. Now that people are no longer staying at home, and are eating out more, will there be more food poisoning outbreaks linked to fast food restaurants? Only time will tell. How many outbreaks are linked to fast food restaurants? In 2022, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was allegedly associated with romaine lettuce served on Wendy's hamburgers and … [Read more...]
History of Fast Food E. coli Outbreaks is Long and Complicated
There is a mystery E. coli outbreak that has sickened dozens of people in Michigan and Ohio. After days of counties reporting the illnesses, the CDC got involved in the investigation yesterday. At least 29 people in those states are sick, and nine patients have been hospitalized. What could be causing this outbreak? We started thinking about the history of fast food E. coli outbreaks over the years. Unfortunately, outbreaks and fast food restaurants are a fairly common combination. There have been many Salmonella, E. coli, and cyclospora outbreaks associated with those restaurants. The main fast food restaurant chains in this country include Wendy's, McDonald's, Jimmy John's, Jack in the Box, Burger King, and Hardees, among others. These are the E. coli outbreaks linked to fast food … [Read more...]
Kentucky E. coli O103 Outbreak Rises to 44 Sick, TN, OH, GA Included
The Kentucky E. coli O103 outbreak has now risen to 44 sick, as of April 3, 2019, according to news reports. Six people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, but there is no mention if any have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that can cause strokes. And there are 20 pending cases that are not yet lab-confirmed. The only official report to date from Kentucky Department of Health lists the outbreak total as 20, but that was posted on Friday, March 29, 2019. This is the largest E. coli outbreak in Kentucky since 2000. Dr. Mel Bennett, who heads Kentucky's infectious disease efforts, told WEKU that the outbreak has spread to Tennessee, Ohio, and Georgia. We do not know how many people are sickened in each of those states. Officials still think … [Read more...]
History of Fast Food E. coli Outbreaks
Food poisoning outbreaks that are linked to fast food have occurred in the past. Most of these outbreaks have been linked to raw vegetables, primarily raw sprouts, although the very first serious E. coli O157:H7 outbreak caused by a fast food product was the Jack in the Box outbreak of 1992 through 1993. The history of fast food E. coli outbreaks is long. The type of E. coli bacteria that causes serious human illness, known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, is found in the intestines of ruminant animals. There are many strains of E. coli, but only some cause human illness. The most common E. coli serotype that causes outbreaks is E. coli O157:H7. There are other serotypes, but they are much more rare. Those pathogens, sometimes called the "Big Six" STEC, included O103, O26, … [Read more...]
CDC Study: 57 Percent Check Calories in Fast Food Before Ordering
Fast food menu boards that give calorie counts for food and beverages options are meant to help people make healthier choices, but not evryone uses them. According to a new report form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 57 percent of people surveyed said they check calorie counts on menu boards. Researchers surveyed 10,548 people in 17 states and asked them this question: "When calorie information is available in the restaurant, how often does this information help you decide what to order?" The response options were "always," "most of the time," "about half the time," "sometimes," and "never." About 11.9 percent said "always," 13.7 percent said "most of the time," 8.8 percent said "about half the time. 22.8 percent said "sometimes" and 42.7 percent said … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Benches Mets First Baseman, Phillies Manager
New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda and Philadelphia Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg say bad burgers from Shake Shack gave them food poisoning last week, according to ESPN. Both men say the burgers they ate were undercooked. Sandberg says he lost six pounds in two days. Duda, who was hospitalized, missed a game Friday but has since recovered and returned to play. Thorough cooking is needed to kill foodborne bacteria such as E.coli or Salmonella which both cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that can be bloody. Hospitalization is required when dehydration or complications develop. There is some dispute over which Shake Shack location was involved. The Mets organization is looking in to it. In a statement to ESPN, a Shake Shack spokesman said the company first heard of the … [Read more...]
Surprise! Most Americans Ignore Calorie Count of Fast Food Meals
Most Americans ignore calorie information posted at fast food restaurants, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Public Health. Only about one third of fast food diners read calorie information before ordering, researches found, raising questions about how calorie information can be presented in more effective ways. The research team, led by Holly Wethington, a behavioral scientist at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) included, epidemiologist Leah M. Maynard; Christine Haltiwanger, doctoral candidate from the Paul D. Coverdell Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens; and Heidi M. Blanck, chief of the Obesity Prevention and … [Read more...]
