It's time to start saying "no" to rare hamburgers - no matter what your age.
The burger that's pink inside can prove to be a bane for small children, the older person and anyone with an impaired immune system.Recent outbreaks of food poisoning have emphasized the dangers of eating underdone hamburgers.
The contaminants involved a strain of E. coli, a very common type of bacteria that inhabits the intestines and feces of humans and other animals without harm to the host.
If the bacteria contaminates food, however, eaters may suffer diarrhea. One strain of E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps as well as a more serious type of syndrome that affects the kidneys and blood clotting system.
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- Dr. Michael Freedman