There’s an abounding parable, latterly fed by a media scare, that organic produce inspires the expansion of E.coli because organic farmers use composts and fertilizer. Organic promoters have come out in hot defence by contrast claim, for the following reasons:

• The levels of pathogens ( substances that cause illness ) in organic cattle are lower, due to high animal welfare standards and the prohibition of a dependance on antibiotics.

• Standards require that dung brought on to the organic farm must be composted a method that kills damaging bacteria.

• Well-managed soils ( which are the root of natural farming ) are a hive of natural biological activity, that has the power to fight pathogens,eg unhealthy bacteria, which will come into contact with the soil. To paraphrase, if there’s bacteria present, it will shortly be handled by healthy bacteria and profitable insects.

• Statistics from the US Center for Illness control show that the overwhelming majority of food-borne illness is related to cross-contamination and handling that happen later in the distribution chain and in the home, instead of on the farm.

• Analysts from the Varsity of Manitoba in Canada revealed that pesticides inspire deadly bacteria, for example shigella, salmonella, listeria and E.coli 0157:H7, to flourish on some crops.