Which setting is most associated with E. coli exposure in the examples listed?

• A. Petting zoos and undercooked meat
• B. Clean water supplies only
• C. Processed foods with no meat
• D. None of the above

Answer: (A)

The setting most linked to E. coli exposure here is situations involving animals and undercooked meat. E. coli is commonly shed by livestock, so contact with animals in petting zoos can transfer the bacteria to hands or surfaces that people then touch and put in their mouths. Ground meat, especially when it’s not cooked to a safe internal temperature, is another well-known route because grinding mixes bacteria from the surface into the interior of the meat, which can survive if not heated enough. While clean water can be a source and contamination can occur in some processed foods, those scenarios are not as strongly associated as animal contact and undercooked meat in the examples given.