Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in E. coli,Our Blog on May 2, 2025
Can you get E. coli from fish caught from contaminated water?
That’s a good question, right.
Regulatory agencies in most jurisdictions keep tabs on coliforms and contaminants in waters used for fishing. But what about ponds and lakes in unregulated water. Or if you have already caught fish before you discovered the notice?
When eating fish at a restaurant or other catered situation, you may not know that fish were caught in contaminated water right away.
How big is the risk? Really?
Let’s explore!
But first, how does E. coli end up in the water anyway?
The most common source of E. coli contamination in water that leads to food poisoning due to E. coli in fish is feces.
Human waste. Cattle feedlots. Or other forms of contamination.
Both human and animal feces alike contain a vast microbiome of both beneficial and harmful bacteria. It’s an outright battle royale going on in our guts. But we have our beneficial bacteria and our immune system on our side.
Within reason, that is.
When waste makes its way into bodies of water, those bad bugs can continue to multiply and grow to infectious numbers.
How does feces make it to water used for fishing?
Swimming in contaminated water generally only leads to illness if water is swallowed.
But what about if you plan to eat something living in the water.
What about E. coli from fish that make that potentially contaminated water their home?
The answer to that question is mixed. It also depends on the type of fish.
In most cases, E. coli has no effect on the population levels or the health of fish. They do not get E. coli infections. However, that doesn’t mean you are in the clear.
Filter feeders are an entirely different story. Additionally, even with the E. coli risk being lower in other fish meat, it is still not without risk.
Certain seafood are filter feeders.
Oysters, for example.
Oysters love dirty water. They feed on algae, phytoplankton, and nutrients suspended in the water. Pretty much as much gunk as they can get their orifices on. And these industrious little creatures move a lot of water.
In fact, one adult oyster takes in an average of 200 liters of water per day. Over time, these creatures can accumulate harmful bacteria and toxins they take in from the water.
Other sea creatures are filter feeders as well and are at risk for making consumers sick with E. coli from fish consumption.
While E. coli from fish caught in contaminated water may not pose a significant threat through consuming meat, that does not mean there is no risk at all.
Reduce risk of contamination by:
Symptoms vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe.
Common symptoms to look out for include:
The symptoms of E. coli infections can vary from mild to severe. Most people begin feeling sick around three to four days after exposure. However, some may begin feeling sick as early as one day or as late as 10 days or more after eating contaminated food.
Normally healthy people generally recover from E. coli infection within five to seven days. Barring serious complications, of course.
These complications may lead to hospitalization or even death. Certain groups of people are more likely to experience these complications.
The elderly, young children (under five years), and those with a weakened immune system may experience more severe illness or develop serious complications.
One of the more serious complications includes the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that can happen following E. coli infection.
HUS, is a rare, but serious health condition that can develop after becoming sick with a toxin-producing bacteria like E. coli O157:H7.
This complication develops when toxins rupture blood cells. These ruptured bloods cells clog the filtering aspects of the kidney. Ultimately, it results in kidney failure and other downstream negative health effects.
People with HUS require hospitalization and monitoring to prevent further damage.
Symptoms to look out for include decreased urination, paleness in cheeks and inside of lower eyelids, and fatigue.
If you have been sick with symptoms consistent with E. coli infection and begin experiencing these HUS symptoms, get medical help right away!
If you have recently become sick with an E. coli infection after consuming fish from contaminated water at a restaurant or other catered situation and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
The experienced E. coli Lawyers at The Lange Law Firm, PLLC have successfully represented cases just like yours and won millions of dollars in foodborne contaminations lawsuits just like this.
Contact The Lange Law Firm, PLLC today for a free, no obligation consultation to go over the details of your situation. Call (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form today.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “Can I Get E. coli from Fish Caught in Contaminated Water?,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)