All produce, regardless of whether it is already bagged and washed at a processing plant, should be washed before it is eaten. Sauteing or boiling leafy greens to a temperature of at least 160 degrees for 15 seconds kills all E. coli bacteria, according to food safety experts.

What foods kill E. coli?

Thoroughly cooking meat, especially ground beef, can destroy E. coli bacteria. Ground beef should be cooked until it is no longer pink and juices run clear. When cooking hamburgers, the meat thermometer should read 160 degrees in the thickest part of the hamburger patty and the patty should not be pink inside.

What kills E. coli on lettuce?

That’s another basic reason why people more often get sick from eating contaminated lettuce and other salad greens. Unlike many other vegetables, they are rarely cooked before being consumed. Cooking kills E. coli O157 and other bacteria.