At the University of Central Florida (UCF) College of Medicine, researchers have found a link between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (abbreviated MAP and found in about half the cows in the United States). The bacteria can be spread to humans by consumption of milk, beef and produce, if the latter of which has been fertilized with cow manure. Researchers were investigating the link between MAP and Crohn’s disease and found a genetic mutation in Crohn’s shared by RA sufferers. Subsequent investigation showed 78% of RA patients had the same mutation seen in Crohn’s patients and 40% of the patients with the mutation were positive for MAP. Maybe cow manure as organic fertilizer is not such a good idea after all. Read the entire UCF College of Medicine article, “Study Finds Bacteria In Milk Linked To Rheumatoid Arthritis.”