FDA Statement on Foodborne E coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach

The latest reports of spinach contaminated with E coli 0157:H7 have reduced the number of states affected from 20, as reported yesterday, to 19. The states with cases of infection include California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The FDA says that 102 cases of infection have been reported to the CDC and 16 have resulted in Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). One patient has died.

The FDA says it is conducting an ongoing investigation and now suggests avoiding all fresh spinach and products containing fresh spinach until further notice. The FDA reports that one food company, Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, is recalling all of its bagged spinach and bagged salads with spinach as an ingredient. This company produces the following brands:

• Bellissima
• Cheney Brothers
• Compliments
• Cross Valley
• D'Arrigo Brothers
• Dole
• Earthbound Farm
• Emeril
• Fresh Point
• Green Harvest
• Jansal Valley
• Mann
• Mills Family Farm
• Natural Selection Foods
• Nature's Basket
• O Organic
• Premium Fresh
• President's Choice
• Pride of San Juan
• Pro-Mark
• Rave Spinach
• Ready Pac
• River Ranch
• Riverside Farms
• Snoboy
• Superior
• Sysco
• Tanimura & Antle
• The Farmer's Market
• Trader Joe's

Anyone with a bagged product containing spinach from these brands and "Best if Used by Dates" of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006 should discard or return the product.

Additional foodborne illness resources:

• Food Poisoning
• E coli 0157:H7
• Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)