Here is the thing with E coli: All of us, including omnivores, need to eat vegetables, so whether one is vegetarian entirely or not, we all still need healthy and safe produce. Washing your produce very well before you eat it helps, and there are good, safe, non toxic veggie washes that improve safety over merely rinsing with water. Furthermore, choosing locally grown and organic as much as possible - or growing your own as much as possible - lessens the chance of getting contaminated produce. Even city dwellers can have veggies growing in tubs, on porches or balconies, or even roof gardens. In Italy, where part of my family is from, every apartment balcony has a small garden on it.
I have been vegetarian for 38 years, vegetarian for 20, primarily for ethical reasons - the health benefits were just an added bonus. But now, just read the current health scoop in any major news mag or health journal: too much animal protein and saturated fat is bad for you. If you want to have a healthy cardiovascular system, reduce your chance of atherosclerosis and osteoporosis, and have a working immune system, you need at least 5, and ideally more like 9, servings of veggies and fruits daily. That's whether you are an omnivore or not.
