FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli Outbreak

A multi-state outbreak of E.coli contaminated spinach has killed at least one person and hospitalized many others. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning on Thursday, telling people people not to eat bagged spinach. So far, 20 states have reported cases: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The FDA is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to pinpoint the cause of the infections and address them. The FDA warns anyone who has eaten fresh bagged spinach and is having symptoms of food poisoning to seek medical attention. E.coli O157:H7 can cause diarrhea, often with bloody stools. The FDA says most adults will recover within a week, but some can develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure.

E.coli O157:H7 is usually found in meat (most often ground beef). It can be neutralized by fully cooking meat to 160 degrees farenheit. Unfortunately, this contamination is on spinach, and eating cooked spinach is no fun. So, don't eat bagged spinach until the FDA gives the all clear. Until then, here is some information to help you stay on top of the issue:

• Food Poisoning
• E coli O157:H7 Facts
• Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) - Hamburger Disease

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