A food safety and microbiology professor at the University of Manitoba says even the smallest amount of E. coli bacteria can leave a child “crippled for life.”

Rick Holley told the Calgary Herald that as few as ten E. coli cells can cause stomach cramps, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and even death.

This condition can be especially dangerous for children, as it has the potential to destroy their kidneys and some never get over it.

With regards to the situation at the XL Foods plant, Holley said that once the bacteria gets into a plant it can hard to get rid of it.

Officials with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency believe it could be possible that one cow, called a “super shredder” may have been source of the outbreak.

They say a single cow can infect all of the other cows in the pen.