![](https://cdn.thepoke.com/uploads/2024/06/07051612/ecoli-1.jpg)
This warning about a vomiting bug outbreak said everything except which food to avoid – 19 sick responses
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water – okay, maybe not UK open water – along comes another horrible illness to put people on their guard, and on their toilets – E. coli.
An alert by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 113 cases, mostly in England, and advised people to take the following steps to avoid the bug, which causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting.
Regularly wash hands with warm water and soap.
Wash fruit and vegetables and cook food properly.
If you have diarrhoea and vomiting, do not prepare food for others and avoid visiting vulnerable people.
Do not return to work or school until 48 hours after symptoms have gone.
We’d strongly suggest people with diarrhoea and vomiting don’t visit anyone – especially not us, thank you very much.
What the UKHSA didn’t do is specify which ‘nationally distributed foods’ to avoid. Spoiler alert – they don’t know.
That didn’t stop people jumping on the vague nature of the alert, and these comments stood out.
1.
Well that's super helpful isn't it pic.twitter.com/I36r45CMxs
— Dr Philip Lee (@drphiliplee1) June 6, 2024
2.
Coincidence? https://t.co/9Mqsu8rvcC pic.twitter.com/LfUrJcdcOL
— HENRY MORRIS (@mrhenrymorris) June 6, 2024
3.
This “health warning” is so free of useful information, it’s basically just E.coli singing “I’ll fiiiiind you” in a creepy voice. https://t.co/Fv1CIoSnXU
— Erica Buist (@ericabuist) June 6, 2024
4.
“There’s a food in all the supermarkets that will make you start shitting blood.”
“Oh no, that sounds serious. What food is it?”
“We’re not telling you.”
Brilliant. https://t.co/AD1VrwtAvT
— Stella Cast ️️⚧️ (they/she) (@SpillerOfTea) June 6, 2024
5.
Sort of like a reverse treasure hunt
— Samantha Ayers (@Sam_Ayerski) June 6, 2024
6.
I mean there really is zero point in telling everyone there is an E. coli outbreak due to some ‘nationally distributed food’ is there.
What are we all meant to do, stop eating?
— Brendan May (@bmay) June 6, 2024
7.
‘Guess the poison food’, the perfect game show for this wrecked country https://t.co/J9MYevZEQ7
— Toby Earle Threads tobyontv (@TobyonTV) June 6, 2024
8.
"You have 60 seconds to collect as many items as you can, but be careful to avoid the mystery nationally distributed food item, otherwise you'll lose all your points." https://t.co/ic0T2h6Dta pic.twitter.com/YCRwnOC84N
— Colin the Dachshund (@DachshundColin) June 6, 2024
9.
“My first is in shits but not in vomit, my second is in diarrhoea but not in stomach cramps…”
— Nick Pettigrew (@Nick_Pettigrew) June 6, 2024
10.
I feel like this is a game of cluedo https://t.co/1mOZnL3A02
— Kathy #PraiseLover (@EESprite) June 6, 2024