A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common health issue affecting up to 60% of women at least once in their lifetime. It is characterized by an infection in any part of the urinary system—kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. UTIs can cause symptoms such as a burning sensation during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and pain in the lower abdomen.

The alarming increase in UTIs, with a nearly 70% rise in cases from 1990 to 2019, points to broader public health implications. Recent research suggests that the food in your fridge could be putting you at even higher risk: contaminated meat. A 2023 study from George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health found that up to 640,000 UTIs in the U.S. each year may be caused by bacteria found on meat. Approximately 30% to 70% of meat products available in retail settings are contaminated with E.coli, indicating widespread exposure.

“We’re used to the idea that foodborne E. coli can cause outbreaks of diarrhea, but the concept of foodborne E. coli causing urinary tract infections seems strange—until you recognize that raw meat is often riddled with the E. coli strains that cause these infections,” said Lance B. Price, a professor of environmental and occupational health and the founder and co-director of the GW Antibiotic Resistance Action Center, in a statement.

E. coli bacteria naturally live in the intestines of humans and animals, including livestock raised for meat. During the slaughtering process, these bacteria can transfer from the animal’s gut to the meat. When consumed, the E. coli can settle in our digestive system and potentially migrate to the urinary tract, leading to a UTI.

Additionally, these bacteria are increasingly developing resistance to common antibiotics, largely due to intensive farming practices. In the U.S., farm animals often receive routine antibiotics to protect them from diseases, even when they are healthy—this process weeds out weaker bacteria and enables more resistant strains to thrive.

“Eating meat that has been heavily treated with antibiotics may be contributing to increasing rates of antibiotic resistance as the human microbiome is being influenced by meat consumption,” Michelle Van Kuiken, a urologist and urogynecologist at the University of California, San Francisco, told National Geographic.

“This does not mean that if you eat meat, you will definitely get a UTI, but it could increase the likelihood that you may end up colonized with a multi-drug-resistant organism.”

While UTIs are a common health concern, understanding and modifying one’s diet can play a crucial role in prevention.

To avoid non-foodborne UTIs, experts recommend minimizing risk through adequate hydration, urinating after sex, frequent handwashing, and hygiene practices such as wiping front to back.