Each year, Escherichia coli, or E. coli, causes about 265,000 infections and 100 deaths in the United States. Many of those infections result in foodborne illness. Notably, E. coli contamination has historically caused large and notable food recalls. In 2023 alone, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 72,858 pounds (33,048 kilograms) of E. coli-contaminated food.
But how does E. coli get into food in the first place?
