On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 09:45:41 -0700, Gale <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> One death occured near where I live from the spinach recall ( a bagged,  
> "washed," ready-to-eat spinach).  In these instances, the "soil" on the  
> produce was from organic fertilizers (i.e. manure) - so buying "organic"  
> produce is no guarantee that you are not also getting some cow crap.

The problem with the E coli O157:H7 on organic spinach in California was  
not the organic manure they put on it, but overflow waste from a nearby  
feedlot.  Feedlot cattle get this bad E coli because they are fed  
concentrated grains to fatten them up.  Cattle raised on grass never have  
it.  In fact if the feedlots would stop with the corn and soy in the last  
two weeks before slaughter, it would cut the E coli O157:H7 contamination  
of feedlot cattle to almost nothing.  Of course that might cause some  
trouble and cut into the profit margin.  For some reason they think it is  
better to have million-dollar recalls, and sickness and death in the  
public.

The reason this particular strain of E coli is so bad for humans is that  
the grains and
soy cause the cow's stomach(s) to become very acidic; normally it is not.   
E coli O157:H7
can easily survive our highly acidic stomach environment.  Most E coli  
strains are
sensitive to acid, but not this one.

	Lynnet, on her CAFO soapbox again ;-)