Guest guest Posted September 18, 2006 Report Share Posted September 18, 2006 Here's something that crossed my mind. If any part of the news is true it would seem that the E. coli originates from cattle. If fewer people (no people?) ate cattle, fewer cattle would be bred and raised. Fewer cattle -> less runoff into rivers. Now admittedly it might also be true if cattle raisers simply did away with feed lots and did away with factory farming, the likelihood of runoff into water would probably also decrease. Admittedly if the spinach growers did more to cleaning the water and fertilizer they use (I'm guessing that this is possible. I'm not nor have I ever been a large-scale farmer. I've raised a few tomato plants . . .) they might not have this problem but the source is still the cattle or one might say the real causative agent is the human raising the cattle and conditions under which they are raised. Just my thoughts. Gary http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060915/NEWS99/60915036/1008/NE\ WS06 <http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060915/NEWS99/60915036/1008/N\ EWS06> " The strain of E. coli common in food is known as 0157. E. coli is present in cattle intestines and so carried in their feces. On the rare occasions it gets into the food supply, it typically is in ground beef and not in vegetables. But E. coli can be present in water used to irrigate fields, in fertilizer, or run-off from fields. It also can be present in processing and packaging plants. " --- Melissa <mapalicka wrote: > Yes, I keep hearing over and over that the demand > for organic (which is a good thing) has > caused lesser quality organics. It is still better > than conventional, especially those heavily > treated items like spinach and peppers. Don't give > up on organic. The farms and > companies need to find a way to keep up with demand > without sacrificing quality and the > spirit of organics. > I live in Tn and wonder can I grow spinach at thin > point in the year in large pots? gsmattingly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 Ah well, just an idle thought. Doesn't human sewage get treated at sewage treatment plants? Or does the e coli remain after the treatment? Gary --- jandor9 <jandor9 wrote: > It's sewage runoff, that's from us. You can't avoid > E.coli, it's in > the birds and rabbits, racoons, all the animals in > the fields too. > > Janis , Gary > Mattingly > <gsmattingly wrote: > > > > Here's something that crossed my mind. > > If any part of the news is true it would > > seem that the E. coli originates from cattle. > > If fewer people (no people?) ate cattle, > > fewer cattle would be bred and raised. > > Fewer cattle -> less runoff into rivers. > > Now admittedly it might also be true if > > cattle raisers simply did away with feed lots > > and did away with factory farming, the likelihood > > of runoff into water would probably also decrease. > > > > Admittedly if the spinach growers did more to > > cleaning the water and fertilizer they use > > (I'm guessing that this is possible. I'm not > > nor have I ever been a large-scale farmer. I've > > raised a few tomato plants . . .) they might not > > have this problem but the source is still the > > cattle or one might say the real causative agent > > is the human raising the cattle and conditions > > under which they are raised. > > > > Just my thoughts. > > > > Gary > > > > http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? > AID=/20060915/NEWS99/60915036/1008/NEWS06 > > <http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? > AID=/20060915/NEWS99/60915036/1008/NEWS06> > > > > " The strain of E. coli common in food is known as > > 0157. E. coli is present in cattle intestines and > so > > carried in their feces. On the rare occasions it > gets > > into the food supply, it typically is in ground > beef > > and not in vegetables. > > > > But E. coli can be present in water used to > irrigate > > fields, in fertilizer, or run-off from fields. It > also > > can be present in processing and packaging > plants. " > > > gsmattingly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 We are damn lucky there have only been 20 outbreaks of E.coli in the past 11 years!! Janis This is so true. I just read about the whole process from the actual planting of the seed up until the time it ends up in your salad bowl and everything that can go wrong along the way. Ugh! One thing I found particularly disturbing is that the farmers hurry the workers along to produce more and more so they consequently relieve themselves in the fields as opposed to using the toilets provided (where there is soap and water available). 20 outbreaks in 11 years is nothing when you realize how unsafe and unsanitary this whole process can be. I stopped in the grocery store at lunch time and saw all those neatly packaged bags of Earthbound Farm greens. Would anyone in their right mind knowingly purchase anything from them even though spinach seems to be the only problem? Not me. TM ______________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 19, 2006 Report Share Posted September 19, 2006 On 9/19/06, robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: > > If there is a CSA in your area, this is far better than buying at a > supermarket. http://www.localharvest.org/csa/ > Thank you for this! I found that there are four about an hour (+) away from me, and two of those have weekly pick-ups in my town, less than a ten minute drive. How cool is that? Thanks!! Thia -- === " To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring - these are some of the rewards of the simple life. " ~John Burroughs = " Life can be lived more fully if people simply quit pretending to be who they were told to be, and be who they really are… " ~ Doug Firebaugh === Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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