Looking into E. Coli... and not liking what I see.

After reviewing a portion of the documentary Food Inc. during our last session, I became increasing interested in contaminated food, specifically in chain restaurants. I was touched by the story that founded the film, that of the death of an innocent two year old boy after ingesting a hamburger at the infamous Jack in the Box burger chain. The boy went from being completely healthy, to dying of an E. coli infection just twelve days later. About nine years ago my youngest sister was infected with the same bacteria, and was also just two years old. Fortunately, my sister received treatment in time and beat the infection after staying in the hospital for a couple of weeks. Like the child featured in the film, my sister was exposed to contaminated meat; watching the film resurrected my recognition of the terrible dangers of contaminated meat, a recognition that has faded since my sister’s E. coli scare. I decided to conduct a little research on good old Jack in the Box, and uncovered some disturbing information that will certainly make me forgo fast food restaurants and instead pack sandwiches on my next road trip.

An article from the New York Times explored and traced an E. coli outbreak that took place in 2009. The article opens with a terrifying statement “A deadly outbreak of E. coli has been traced to a large producer of ground beef that stopped testing its ingredients years ago under pressure from beef suppliers” (Moss 2009). The article continues to explain that the beef company owned by AFA Foods was the supplied beef that killed two people and sickened over 500 others, ultimately forcing them to recall around 500,000 pounds of meat (Moss 2009). More concerning, the article reveals that the United States Department of Agriculture does not require meat companies to test their products for E. coli (Moss 2009). This company supplied meat to Trader Joes, who immediately cut ties with the provider after the outbreak- what a relief. Unfortunately, Jack in the Box continues their relationship with AFA Foods.

The article provides an explanation for the existence of E. coli stating “…ground beef are more susceptible to contamination because the pathogen thrives in cattle feces that can get smeared on the surfaces of whole cut meat” (Moss 2009). This disturbing fact has inevitably changed my view of the hamburger…. Gross!

Additionally, I researched the deadly E. coli outbreak of Jack in the Box in 1992- I will literally never eat at this place. In the outbreak, two people died, and 400 others were terrible ill including seven children on kidney dialysis (NY Times 1993). Learning of the history of Jack in the Box made me almost angry; how can such a company remain in business today? The child in the documentary Food Inc. died in 2001, almost ten years after the chain’s first public outbreak. It’s frustrating that such an organization can continue conducting dangerous and almost careless behavior.