E. Coli Outbreak in the United Kingom: Caused by Salad Greens?

Everyone loves a healthy salad, especially if it's packed with greens and your favorite type of dressing. But what if some salads out there are not so healthy after all and can actually cause you to be terribly ill? Recent reports of an E. coli outbreak occurring have been pointing to an unusual suspect: salads.

A report from the Telegraph states that over 100 people in the United Kingdom have gotten sick as a direct result of eating servings of mixed salad greens that have been contaminated with the potentially deadly virus strain. As of July 5, 2016, there have been 109 documented cases of E. coli in the UK resulting from this outbreak. 102 people have been infected in England, six in Wales, and a single person in Scotland.

The particular strain of E. coli in question is known as E. coli O157 and is known for its wide array of possible symptoms. For example, it can cause mild, but at times bloody, diarrhea along with a case of severe pain in the abdominal region. The organization Public Health England was first informed of this E. coli outbreak late last month at the end of June.

Salad greens, including rocket leaves, have been the primary culprit, but experts refuse to rule out other possible sources. "At this stage, we are not ruling out other food items as a potential source," says Dr. Isabel Oliver, the director of Public Health England's field epidemiology service.

Public Health England believes they have taken the necessary precautions to keep the outbreak in check. "To assist with this investigation to help us find the source, we have convened a national outbreak control team who will also ensure all necessary control measures are put in place," Oliver says. The BBC has also released a list of pointers to help avoid the life-threatening virus.