Michigan, Ohio E. coli oubreaks linked-officials

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

CHICAGO, June 24 (Reuters) - Outbreaks of E. coli bacteria in Michigan and Ohio appear to be linked to the same source, and investigators suspect the outbreak was caused by ground beef, public health officials said on Tuesday.

"It is a multi-state outbreak involving both Ohio and Michigan," said Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health.

Health officials in Michigan said in a statement that more than half of the 15 people with confirmed E. coli cases reported purchasing ground beef from Kroger Food Stores (KR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), the largest U.S. grocery chain.

Lola Russell, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, confirmed that both states are involved in the outbreak but did not say if ground beef was the source.

"We, along with U.S. Department of Agriculture, are working with state health officials," Russell said in an e-mail,

Weiss said genetic testing by the CDC has determined the 17 confirmed Ohio cases and cases in Michigan originated from the same bacteria.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2461445220080625?sp=true

[trixie]

1. I can't believe

people actually buy their meat at a grocery store............yuck.

[realisticphish]

3. yeah, seriously

i mean groceries??? at a grocery store??

[MsKandice01]

4. And just where are most people supposed to get it??

Raise their own cows?

[OhioBlue]

7. from the butcher?

or a meat market?

:shrug:

I don't know if everyone has easy access. But, I have several options nearby. I also know which grocery stores (locally owned) get their meat from the local butcher. I try to avoid buying any fresh meat from chain grocery stores. I will get frozen chx or smoked meats from them occasionally.

[MsKandice01]

8. I wouldn't know where to find a butcher around here...

And I live in the tenth largest city in the country.

[stillcool]

9. the meat market?

I thought that was the local bar.

[trixie]

13. exactly!

I have never bought meat at a grocery store and my mother is 70 this month and she has never bought meat at a grocery store. Just looking at the meat counter makes me gross out at the grocery store. We live in a city just outside of detroit. There are butchers everywhere.

I hear in rural areas they don't have any butchers or meat markets or even vegetable markets which I find quite ironic.

[TheMadMonk]

12. Buy whole rumps at a decent discount price.

Slice off a few steaks and a couple of roasts. Grind some up in a food processor for premium ground that's better than what sells as such.

[MichiganVote]

2. Christ, is there ANYTHING this frickin' goverment gets right anymore?

[UpInArms]

6. here's something:

Halliburton shoots to record high for 2nd day

Associated Press 06.24.08, 1:20 PM ET

NEW YORK -

Shares of oilfield services company Halliburton Co. hit a record high for the second straight session before easing Tuesday.

The morning gains came as oil prices fluctuated but remained high. Light, sweet crude for August delivery rose 8 cents to $136.82 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Halliburton (nyse: HAL - news - people ) shares shot as high as $53.41 earlier in the day, beating the previous all-time record of $53.11, set Monday.

The stock has been soaring in recent months as it tracks the skyrocketing price of crude. Higher oil prices are good for Halliburton because they encourage energy companies to spend more on extracting hydrocarbons in hard-to-reach sites deep underground or out at sea.

[mcg]

10. Halliburton (HAL) stock chart 1981 to present ...

http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=HAL#symbol=HAL
Press Max to see prices since '81

"Higher oil prices are good for Halliburton because they encourage energy companies to spend more on extracting hydrocarbons in hard-to-reach sites deep underground or out at sea."

... and Bush is clamoring for off-shore drilling. Hmmmm

[MichiganVote]

11. Another Cheney deal. The real Demander in Chief, pay up Bush or your service records are on the news

[angstlessk]

5. when I was a kid my mom and I both would have a little marble sized

ball of RAW HAMBURGER sprinkled with seasoned salt, and never thought twice about it, and never got ill. I would not even eat a rare burger today they have to be almost cinderized!