Food Safety: How to kill E. coli and avoid illness

( News Canada )-Here are some tips from Health Canada on how to prevent E. coli O157:H7 infection:

• Cook all ground beef and hamburger thoroughly. Because ground beef can turn brown before disease-causing bacteria are killed, use a digital food thermometer to ensure thorough cooking to an internal temperature of at least 71°C (160°F).
• If served an undercooked hamburger or other ground beef product in a restaurant, send it back for further cooking. Ask for a new bun and a clean plate, too. Avoid eating patties that are pink in the middle.
• Avoid spreading harmful bacteria in your kitchen. Keep raw meat separate from ready-to-eat foods. Wash hands, counters, and utensils with hot soapy water after they have come in contact with raw meat. Never place cooked hamburgers on the unwashed plate that held raw patties. Wash thermometers in between testing patties.

For more information on food safety visit the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education website .

• Summary of Methods that Detect E. Coli O157:H7 in this Compendium
• How to Avoid Illness from Hamburgers (Hamburger Disease)