Many families are celebrating Halloween this weekend and next, and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) has some safety tips for people making trips to apple orchards and pumpkin patches. The agency says trips to these places can be educational and fun, but it also carries some risks. Bacteria like E. coli, parasitic Cryptosporidium and many others can be spread by farm and animal contact or drinking unpasteurized liquids. To reduce your risk of potential contamination, be sure to clean any apples or produce before eating them, check that any milk, juice or cider is pasteurized before drinking it and wash your hands with soap and warm water after visiting. The department encourages anybody who believes they may have gotten ill from consuming any food or drink to contact them at 1-844-IowaSIC to help the IDPH identify potential outbreaks. For more information on foodborne illnesses, follow the link included with this story on our website.
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http://idph.iowa.gov/cade/foodborne-illness
