E Coli warning

[Badgertime]

Just read on Sky News about a new health warning.

I ate a bunch of dried apricots yesterday at lunch from Aldi and a few more today and I've been Sh**tting ever since.

I hope it's not them.🤔

Well it will be but due to the fibre rather an e coli.

I hope so.

There not even saying what it is so it's pointless worrying about it

That's why I don't eat dried apricots. It always has this effect on me, no need for e-coli

This reminds me of Sarah Millican deciding she was allergic to apricots after eating 40.

Sorry is the e coil soley related to apricots, or other stuff?

They don't know what's caused it from the sound of it. Only that due to the wide geographical spread of cases it looks like it's an item or items that are distributed all through the country. Although as there's only one case in N Ireland they think it's more likely that person picked it up when visiting England.

As others have said, more likely that the fibre in the dried apricots made your poo looser if you're not used to them and you had a load. You're not really supposed to have a load at once. You wouldn't eat 12 fresh apricots in one go, would you so not sure why you think you could get away with eating a large amount of the same thing only dried and not end up on the toilet?

Dried fruit have preservatives which many people are sensitive to. Plus- you've eaten a 'bunch' yesterday plus more today so imagine how much fibre and sugar that is! If you ate that many fresh apricots you'd likely have diarrhoea too 🙄

No, dried fruit in excess will give anyone the shits you’re ok

It hasn't been connected to any item at all- food or otherwise, let alone apricots. The OP has eaten handfuls of dried apricots and got diarrhoea! End of. No mentioned of any other e-coli food poisoning symptoms, so likely just over eating the apricots!

So no advise on the source or how to avoid it?

Ok, I feel convinced the spread is not due to dried apricots.

I ate them because I didn't have anything for lunch at work and found the packet in the car. I was starving! 😃The remainder stayed in my room at work and I ate them at break today.

They haven’t said what it is yet.

In a statement, the agency said: "Based on the wide geographic spread of cases, it is most likely that this outbreak is linked to a nationally distributed food item or multiple food items."
All the cases recorded in the outbreak involve Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O145 (Stec) - which can cause severe diarrhoea as well as stomach cramps and fever.

Not that I can see in what's being reported. I hope they trace it soon.

I am due a shop in a few days I’m worried now

I remember the last Europe- wide outbreak was caused by beansprouts.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/one-dead-112-more-affected-29305061

This suggests mince beef.

Everything I've read suggests that strain is most likely to be found in undercooked minced beef. So stay away from rare burgers and cook mince properly (which you should do anyway).

There are other sources (unpasteurised fruit juice and milk) and bagged salad/vegetables that have been contaminated so I'm planning on washing anything I'm eating raw more thoroughly than usual as a precaution.

That was in 2023 though with the beef. Could be the same or perhaps something different?

Wish they would say either way.

They can't say because they don't know! They aren't withholding the information.

It must be a nightmare trying to trace the source of it is distributed nationally.