E. Coli is Not Just for Carnivores

Surprise, surprise, for those of you that thought you were safe from the bacteria E. coli by sticking to the vegetarian lifestyle. In my experience, and with all of my years in restaurants, people were more prone to getting serious illnesses from vegetables like lettuce, than they were from undercooked chicken. I personally have gotten food poisoning from two separate restaurants that served dirty lettuce. They will remain nameless, of course.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in June and July 1997 60 people got food poisoning from eating alfalfa sprouts contaminated with E. coli, and there have been about a half-dozen outbreaks of salmonella infection caused by alfalfa sprouts since 1995. Unwashed, raw fruits and vegetables can be just as toxic as unprepared, uncooked meat.

Not convinced yet? Discovery has recently published articles about the safety issues of meat and vegetables. In fact, they go on to further explain that vegans and vegetarians believe that by eating vegetables they are safe from food born pathogens. You're wrong!

Read more about the E.coli on Discovery News and how it's affecting the way we think about vegetables.