Food-borne illnesses can happen to you — whether you’re following a vegan diet or not. A good example is the recent E. coli outbreak in Germany caused from bean sprouts. However, a vegan diet can reduce your chances of contracting food-borne illnesses because many high-risk foods aren’t on your menu. The Daily Meal just posted an article on the most notorious food scares. Here’s what you’re missing by eating animal-free.
Food-borne illnesses can happen to you — whether you’re following a vegan diet or not. A good example is the recent E. coli outbreak in Germany caused from bean sprouts. However, a vegan diet can reduce your chances of contracting food-borne illnesses because many high-risk foods aren’t on your menu. The Daily Meal just posted an article on the most notorious food scares. Here’s what you’re missing by eating animal-free.
Listeria in deli meat
Aren’t you glad you bypass the meat counter? Earlier this year, Rose & Shore Meat Co. from Vernon, California, recalled about 15,900 pounds of deli meat products due to a Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The issue was discovered after the meat was tested upon the request of a commercial customer of the company that had received a consumer complaint.
E. coli in beef
In late 2008, there were two deaths and 26 other reported cases of illness from eating ground beef that had been contaminated with E. coli. It was suspected that these cases were related to the 546,000 pounds of recalled ground beef sold by Fairbanks Farms in Asheville, New York. Even earlier, you may recall the 1993 E. coli outbreak when Jack In The Box sold undercooked meat that infected more than 450 people, and took the lives of three children.
Melamine in milk-based baby formula
In 2008, melamine in Chinese milk formula left four children dead and thousands more in the hospital throughout several Asian countries.
Listeriosis in cheese
In the mid-80s, ppproximately 150 cases of Listeriosis were reported throughout Southern California’s Mexican-American community. The outbreak resulted in 62 deaths. When tested, the contamination was traced back to samples of queso fresco and cotija in Jalisco cheese products.
Beware of cross contamination
Though avoiding animal products may reduce your risk of getting food-borne illnesses, you aren’t immune. Many food-borne illnesses are a result of cross contamination from infected animal products to fruits and vegetables. Just be aware of where your food comes from and diligently follow food safety practices.
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