The deadly E. coli O157:H7 bacteria, which often originates in livestock’s fecal matter, has seen yet another serious occurrence in the United States. Some 124 tons of beef were recalled over the Christmas holidays from both stores and popular restaurant chains as at least 21 people fell ill across 16 states.

Of those sickened, 9 were hospitalized, and one has been diagnosed with the potentially lethal kidney disorder known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. According to leading US food safety attorney Bill Marler, such livestock-related infections have become alarmingly more common,with factory farming and lack of regulations being major factors.

In a telephone interview, Mr. Marler explained how the bacteria could make its wayto one’s plate.
Bill Marler – Food-borne illness lawyer, USA (M): There have been a number of Salmonella and Campylobacter-related outbreaks at buffets where the chicken might get under-cooked or again might become crossed-contaminated with other food items in the buffet. And they do happen fairly frequently.

VOICE: In the December E. coli outbreak, half the afflicted were under the age of 34. Indeed, all too many food poisoning victims are children.

Bill Marler (M): In Wales, there was a young boy who had died from an E. coli infection at school lunch, and it was really because the butcher had cross-contaminated a cutting board with cooked meat and raw meat, and so cooked meat went out and poisoned this kid. So it’s been a long haul for me seeing a lot of really great families devastated by bacterial and viral illnesses, not only E. coli but Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter.

VOICE: Another lethal disease originating from mass animal agriculture is the H1N1 swine flu pandemic, known to have infected millions globally thus far. Fatalities have risen most recently in countries such as Ukraine with 882 recorded lives lost, India with 1,061, Canada with 414, and Algeria now with 54 deaths.
Confirmed swine flu fatalities across more than 200 countries stands at 21,473. However, as is the case with food-borne bacteria cases, actual occurrences, both fatal and non-fatal, go vastly underreported.

We thank Mr. Marler for further revealing the tragedy of today’s agriculture practices and pray for the countless victims and families affected by diseases with meat production at their root.

May we quickly find the safest refuge in the vegan way of living, which not only restores vitality but could greatly minimize such health risks for all.


http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/01/names-of-ten-states-added-to-e-coli-o157h7-outbreak/
http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/56622/
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health1/indias-swine-flu-toll-touches-1046-lead_100301023.html
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2010-01/09/content_12779437.htm
http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2052771&Language=en
http://www.vancouverite.com/2010/01/08/swine-flu-declines-but-kills-six-more-in-canada/
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/west-central/148983-swine-flu-claims-lives-of-two-more-scots/