FDA Warns Of E.Coli Bacteria In Bagged Fresh Spinach

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The Food and Drug Administration Thursday warned American consumers not to eat commercially bagged fresh spinach because it may be the source of a worsening outbreak of foodborne illness that so far has caused one death.

In the past week, nine states have reported a total of 50 cases of severe diarrhea caused by Escherichia coli 0157:H7. Eight of the cases have led to a severe complication that causes kidney failure.

Interviews with victims, who have ranged from children to the elderly, point to washed and bagged spinach as a common source, said David Acheson of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. No farm, brand, distributor or retail store has been identified as associated with the presumably contaminated product.

Source (http://freeinternetpress.com/story.php?sid=8462)

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Guess Popeye better eat something else..huh ?

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A California natural foods company was linked Friday to a nationwide bacterial outbreak that has killed one person and sickened nearly 100 others.

The outbreak was traced to Natural Selection Foods, based in San Juan Bautista, Calif., and the company has voluntarily recalled products containing spinach.

The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) is recommending that consumers avoid the consumption of bagged fresh spinach as a safety measure to avoid possible E. coli infection.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday issued an alert about an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in multiple states that may be associated with the consumption of bagged fresh spinach. DPH has been notified that one of the cases suspected to be part of this outbreak involves a female teenage resident of Paducah. She is currently hospitalized in Tennessee.

Three additional E. coli O157:H7 cases have been reported that fit the pattern of the outbreak. Two of the newly reported cases affect women in their late 50s from Oldham County; one of the women is hospitalized. The other case is in a school-age child from Jefferson County who is currently hospitalized. At this time, state health officials are working with staff at the local health departments in these counties to determine the source of the infections.

Prior to the case involving the western Kentucky resident, DPH data shows 12 reported E. coli cases in Kentucky in 2006 and 11 cases in 2005. These cases were not believed to be linked to packaged produce.

To date, 50 cases of E. coli O157:H7 associated with this outbreak have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including eight cases of HUS, and one death.


If you believe you have experienced symptoms of illness after consumption of raw bagged spinach please consult your health care provider. If you have a question you may contact your local health department or the Food Safety Branch at (502) 564-7181.

FDA officials stressed that the bacteria had not been isolated in products sold by Natural Selection Foods but that the link was established by patient accounts of what they had eaten before becoming ill.

The investigation is continuing.