Symptoms: The E. coli gastroenteritis syndrome is caused by the ingestion of 106 -1010 viable cells/g that must colonize the small intestine and produce enterotoxin. The syndrome is characterized primarily by non-bloody, watery diarrhoea without inflammatory exudates in stools. Incubation time of disease is around 2 days after eating the contaminated food and may last for 8 days. Common symptoms included are cramps, chills, vomiting, aches and headache.