Food Safety - E. Coli Escherichia coli, more commonly called E. coli for short, comes in many strains. E. coli normally lives in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals without causing disease or illness. However, the strain called E. coli 0157:H7 is different. This strain, first linked to human illness in 1982, produces a dangerous toxin that is very harmful to humans. Anyone can contract E. coli, but elderly people and those under five years of age appear more likely to develop serious infections. Infection can cause a complication called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). This is a disease in which red...