A bacterium that can cause gastric ulcers and increase the risk of gastric cancer was present in as much as 40% of chicken purchased in a local grocery store.
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is believed to be transmitted orally by ingesting food or water infected with fecal matter. The bacteria probably contaminated the food products during handling in the store or slaughterhouse.
H. pylori infects the stomach lining, causing an inflammatory response that can increase the risk for gastritis and gastric cancer, but may be treated with a regimen of antibiotics.
The researchers evaluated 13 different food types purchased from behind the counter at a local grocery store. They were able to grow cultures of the H. pylori on about one third of the samples of the chicken, shrimp, pork, crab, clam and fish.
As a more accurate follow-up, they then conducted genetic-based testing on the chicken and determined that 40% of the chicken pieces tested positive for the presence of the H. pylori bacteria.
Digestive Disease Week San Francisco, CA May 23, 2002
This study provides important information reminding us that the traditional method of raising animals decreases their immune responses and makes them far more susceptible to disease. Thus it would be wise to cook most meat thoroughly.
This is particularly true for meats that should not be consumed anyway, like shellfish and pork, as they have a far higher rate of infectious contamination.
However, even if the food is contaminated, it is my belief that if you are healthy, your immune system will be more than capable of addressing the infectious challenge.
Related Articles:
Raw Food -- One of Your Keys to Outstanding Health Resistant Bacteria Common in Grocery Store Chicken
Raw Food -- One of Your Keys to Outstanding Health
Resistant Bacteria Common in Grocery Store Chicken