I recently had lunch with an out-of-town friend. I ordered a salad and while we were eating my friend mentioned having a severe case of ecoli from a salad while traveling. Severe to the point of being hospitalized and unconscious for 3 days. I had ALWAYS thought it was passed along by uncooked meat or lettuce--and that the lettuce was contaminated because the water used to grow it was infected with the bacteria.
My friend was traveling with her sister and both ordered the same meal...with these exceptions:
My friend ordered her salad (greens with marinated salmon, grilled veggies and cheese) as it was noted on the menu. Her sister, whom my friend considers to be Miss Nit-Picky, wanted the same salad, but wanted a fresh piece of un-marinated salmon and no veggies...just lettuce and grilled salmon. So, not really the same salad.
My friend got sick the following evening and she got sicker the day after (you don't need to know the gory symptoms). Her sister took her to the ER on the third day. She was in the hospital for 5 days.
I'm fairly certain she is NEVER going to order another salad while traveling, but my question is this: what exactly caused her symptoms? If the salmon marinade was contaminated, wouldn't grilling kill the bacteria? It couldn't be the raw salmon or lettuce because both sisters had those ingredients.
I have to say, after that conversation I really didn't enjoy my salad that day.
My friend was traveling with her sister and both ordered the same meal...with these exceptions:
My friend ordered her salad (greens with marinated salmon, grilled veggies and cheese) as it was noted on the menu. Her sister, whom my friend considers to be Miss Nit-Picky, wanted the same salad, but wanted a fresh piece of un-marinated salmon and no veggies...just lettuce and grilled salmon. So, not really the same salad.
My friend got sick the following evening and she got sicker the day after (you don't need to know the gory symptoms). Her sister took her to the ER on the third day. She was in the hospital for 5 days.
I'm fairly certain she is NEVER going to order another salad while traveling, but my question is this: what exactly caused her symptoms? If the salmon marinade was contaminated, wouldn't grilling kill the bacteria? It couldn't be the raw salmon or lettuce because both sisters had those ingredients.
I have to say, after that conversation I really didn't enjoy my salad that day.
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