Design Pics/Michael Interisano
DCL
The latest e. coli scare is doing real damage in Europe. Killer organic cucumbers, which originated in Spain, have killed nine and hospitalized 300 in Germany. Health officials are warning not to eat cucumbers, raw tomatoes, or lettuce when traveling through Germany.
According to Sky News HD:
In Germany concern is growing. The country's National Disease Control Centre has confirmed 60 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
British microbiologist Ron Cutler told Sky News: "It contains some very nasty toxins which can go straight to your kidneys and cause kidney failure, and it's very difficult to treat.
"For those who are treated, around 90% of treatments can be successful, but one in 10 of those people could have damaged kidneys in later life."
It's believed that the contamination of the cucumbers happened during handling. While the cases seemed to have originated in Spain, the bacteria has also been found in the Netherlands.
Even if a product is organic if it was grown thousands of miles away, controlling deadly e.coli outbreaks like this one is difficult. In fact, it becomes an issue of national security. This is all the more reason to eat with the seasons and eat what's available in your neck of the woods instead of choosing organic bell peppers flown in from South America. And the very best way to ensure food safety in your home is to grow your own organic produce.
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