Some patients develop bloody diarrhea.
In a smaller proportion of infections, a serious complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, may develop.
HUS can damage the kidneys and lead to acute kidney injury.
This does not mean that every case of vomiting or abdominal pain after eating vegetables is caused by E. coli. It simply demonstrates one established medical pathway through which contaminated food can sometimes be associated with kidney complications.
The CDC identifies certain raw vegetables, including lettuce and sprouts, among possible sources of pathogenic E. coli.
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Salmonella and fresh produce
Salmonella is another bacterium commonly associated with foodborne illness.
Although people often connect it with poultry or eggs, contaminated fresh produce can also transmit the organism.
Symptoms may include diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, and nausea.
Most otherwise healthy individuals recover, but some require medical treatment, particularly when dehydration becomes severe or infection spreads beyond the digestive tract.
