Don’t eat your packaged spinach! Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises consumers not to eat bagged fresh spinach in view of a serious E. coli outbreak reported since Aug. 23 in more than twenty states starting with Connecticut, Idaho, Utah, Indiana, New Mexico, Michigan, Oregon, and Wisconsin, which reported the most cases and the one death. Reports of confirmed cases have spread rapidly.

Packaged spinach, alone or mixed in with other salad green, has been identified as the source in at least 94 cases of illness from this virulent strain of E. coli. One death and at least 14 cases of kidney failure have been reported so far, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said late Friday.

A California organic food company, Natural Selection
Foods, has been identified with the supply of the E. Coli contaminated, now recalled spinach is the. They sell the brand Earthbound Farms spinach and various mixed
salads containing spinach and other greens in plastic bags and in clear plastic boxes or clam shells.

Batches known to be affected have “sell by” dates between August 17 through October 1st.

The recall includes similar products sold under other labels. The California company’s organic farm supplies some other packaged spinach and salad companies like Dole.

Their products are sold “in nearly three-quarters of US grocery
stores.” Canadian supermarkets also are pulling US spinach.
http://tinyurl.com/j9lac

Although E. Coli is usually destroyed by thorough cooking, FDA says don’t even try that, take the package back to the store or throw it out.

E. coli infection results in severe sudden onset diarrhea. The particular strain of E. coli involved in this packaged spinach outbreak is E. coli serotype O157:H7, “a rare variety of E. coli that produces large quantities of one or more related, potent toxins that cause severe damage to the lining of the intestine. These toxins [verotoxin (VT), shiga-like toxin] are closely related or identical to the toxin produced by Shigella dysenteriae.” (FDA).

Culture-confirmed cases reported by doctors and hospitals to the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and thence to FDA are probably far lower than actual cases.

As the outbreak spread, according to San Jose Mercury News: “At least one possible case has been reported in California, where federal and state authorities are investigating links between the E. coli outbreaks and the farming and production of leafy greens in Salinas Valley.”

David Acheson of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the number of reported cases was “‘increasing by the day. We don’t know — we may be at the peak or we may not.’”

For anyone at special risk — the elderly, young children and people dealing with cancer especially those on chemo and anyone with kidney or urinary problems - this warning applies to all packaged salad greens including uncooked greens presented in restaurant salad bars and in meals delivered in institutions like nursing homes and day care, where the source is unknown.

“Salinas farming practices,” says the Dan Jose paper, “are currently a focus of concern for state and federal health officials after eight outbreaks of E. coli 0157:H7 since 1995 were traced to the valley, sometimes called the ‘Salad Bowl of the World.’ More than 200 people have gotten sick in eight states, including two who died at a retirement home in Northern California in 2003, after eating sealed bags of greens grown and packaged in Salinas Valley. The suspicion is that the contamination may have originated in the farm soil or packing plants where the lettuce is gathered, washed and sealed in plastic bags.”

“Last year, after nearly three dozen people in Minnesota became sick after eating packaged Dole salad from Salinas, federal officials stepped up their examination of farming and processing methods in the area.”

If you develop symptoms of this illness do not take antibiotics . According to Washington State Department of Health, “Studies suggest antibiotics are harmful in the treatment of E. coli O157:H7 infection. It is recommended that antibiotics and diarrhea medicines not be given.”

“Some infected people have mild diarrhea or no symptoms at all. Most identified cases develop severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Blood is often seen in the stool. Usually little or no fever is present. Symptoms generally appear three to four days after exposure, but can take as long as nine days to appear. Persons experiencing these symptoms should contact their physician.”

Sources:

Earthbound Farms Products — statement about E. Coli recall
http://www.ebfarm.com/Products/index.aspx

San Jose Mercury News:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/15525294.htm

What is E. Coli? Washington State Dept of Health Fact Sheet
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehsphl/factsheet/ecoli.htm

FDA E. Coli fact sheet: Escherichia coli O157:H7
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~mow/chap15.html