E.Coli: The Mystery Romaines

Introduction: Farm to Fatal. Food for Thought

A short introduction to the podcast series, by Christopher Kelty of the Institute for Society and Genetics at UCLA.  Music in this intro by Ween.  These podcast episodes were created by members of the 2025 Winter Capstone course in the Human Biology and Society major at UCLA's Institute for Society and Genetics (https://socgen.ucla.edu/ [https://socgen.ucla.edu/]). The faculty sponsor is Christopher Kelty. For questions or concerns email ckelty@ucla.edu.

Salsification! The 2003 Hepatitis A Outbreak

A beloved family-friendly restaurant turns out to be not-so-friendly after all — it was supposed to be a dinner, not a funeral.   4 Deaths. over 650 incidents of illness. Official cause still unknown. In the fall of 2003, the United States saw the worst Hepatitis A outbreak it had ever seen, spreading across 7 states.  Where did it all originate? From a quaint Mexican restaurant just 30 miles north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Chi-Chi’s was founded in Minnesota during the 1970s in an attempt to bring Mexican food to an area where it was a scarcity. Business boomed, profits rose, and Chi-Chi’s became a popular chain restaurant in the midwest, boasting locations in 19 states. Misfortune fell in 2003 when a shipment of Hepatitis A contaminated green onions was brought in to the Chi-Chi’s in Beaver valley Mall, Pennsylvania.  What happened next was a series of unfortunate events, ultimately leading Chi-Chi’s to close its doors permanently.  unless... it wasn’t permanent? Produced by Evangeline Bodhuri, Delna Cherian, and Sharon Iype These podcast episodes were created by members of the 2025 Winter Capstone course in the Human Biology and Society major at UCLA's Institute for Society and Genetics (https://socgen.ucla.edu/ [https://socgen.ucla.edu/]). The faculty sponsor is Christopher Kelty. For questions or concerns email ckelty@ucla.edu.

E.Coli: The Mystery Romaines

Remember when you had really nasty food poisoning at the same time grocery stores were issuing recalls and restaurants were taking items off their menus? Ever wonder why outbreaks of Salmonella. E. coli. or Listeria make headlines at least once a year? Well, let’s uncover the secret together in E. coli: The Mystery Romaines. Foodborne illnesses break out across the world all the time. Does it have to do with unsafe growing? Transportation problems? Unsanitary grocery store habits? What if we were to tell you that it is not that simple. Rather, there is an innate system that is inevitable and ensures that the current rate of foodborne illness outbreaks is unlikely to change. What is this mysterious system? Institutionalized non- knowledge.  Listen in as we explore the outbreak of E. coli in Romaine Lettuce between the years of 2018 and 2020 and delve deeper into how a string of events spanning three years reveal how the systems in control of dealing with outbreaks seem powerless in the face of these pathogens. We will learn what E. coli is, what happened during these outbreaks, how institutionalized non- knowledge complicates these events, and how real change can be made in the future. Come along on this journey as we explore the eternal, systemic mystery of foodborne pathogens. Produced by Ayaan Ekram, Shyla Maharaj and Iris Qi These podcast episodes were created by members of the 2025 Winter Capstone course in the Human Biology and Society major at UCLA's Institute for Society and Genetics (https://socgen.ucla.edu/ [https://socgen.ucla.edu/]). The faculty sponsor is Christopher Kelty. For questions or concerns email ckelty@ucla.edu.

Ready-To-Eat: Justice beyond the numbers in the 2017 Listeria outbreak

The 2017-2018 listeriosis outbreak in South Africa was the largest and deadliest listeria outbreak on record with over 1,000 reported cases of listeriosis and over 200 deaths. The Department of Health traced the source of the outbreak to a contaminated sausage known as Polony, which had been produced by a local facility. The outbreak affected hundreds of individuals and families and highlighted the severe shortcomings of South Africa's fractured food safety system. Our podcast delves deeply into the human stories beyond the stark statistics that tend to dominate the narrative of the listeriosis outbreak. We comprehensively explore the biological, social, political, and legal dimensions of this outbreak, while intertwining personal accounts from victims and their families. We examine the unique biological traits of Listeria that make it a particularly elusive pathogen and discuss how the unique demographic characteristics of South Africa's population increase susceptibility to such infections. Additionally, we consider how historical structures, such as the enduring legacy of Apartheid and racial and socioeconomic disparities, compounded these vulnerabilities, contributing to the scale of this public health crisis.  Advances in Whole Genome Sequencing played a crucial role in tracing the source of the outbreak, underscoring the importance of scientific progress in managing health emergencies. Our aim is to shed light on the complexity of the outbreak through the stories of those impacted to underscore the insufficient justice provided to the victims, highlighting the need for systemic change. Produced by Valentina Angel, Eleanor Casey, and Teela Hamner These podcast episodes were created by members of the 2025 Winter Capstone course in the Human Biology and Society major at UCLA's Institute for Society and Genetics (https://socgen.ucla.edu/ [https://socgen.ucla.edu/]). The faculty sponsor is Christopher Kelty. For questions or concerns email ckelty@ucla.edu.

The Sleepover Symposium: the 2013 STEC outbreak

In this sleepover-style podcast, two girls explore the 2011 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak in Germany and France. They dive into the mystery of the contamination’s source. Was it Egyptian seeds, German sprouting, or irrigation water? They also explore the biology behind this unique strain and its link to HUS. In this podcast series, two girls discuss complex biological and medical topics that affect society in a fun, “girly” sleepover setting. This episode focuses on the 2011 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak that affected Germany, France, America, and other parts of Europe. The conversation delves into the mystery of the contamination’s source, as there are still questions around whether it was contaminated Egyptian seeds, the sprouting process in Germany, or irrigation water that carried the bacteria. The uncertainty of the exact source remains one of the most intriguing aspects of this outbreak. This episode then shifts to the biology behind the outbreak, explaining the unique characteristics of the hyper- virulent STEC strain. The hosts break down how these virulence factors led to the highest number of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) cases recorded in an E. coli outbreak. They also discuss potential treatments for HUS and patients' experiences with HUS. The hosts make these complex biological issues approachable for all listeners, ensuring a fun yet informative experience. This podcast is both enjoyable and educational for anyone interested in the intersection of science, society, and health. Produced by Sara Ghanbari and Darla Gall These podcast episodes were created by members of the 2025 Winter Capstone course in the Human Biology and Society major at UCLA's Institute for Society and Genetics (https://socgen.ucla.edu/ [https://socgen.ucla.edu/]). The faculty sponsor is Christopher Kelty. For questions or concerns email ckelty@ucla.edu.