Updated: September 29, 2006
 

FDA is announcing today that all spinach implicated in the current outbreak has traced back to Natural Selection Foods LLC of San Juan Bautista, California.  This determination is based on epidemiological and laboratory evidence obtained by multiple states and coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Natural Selection Foods issued a recall of all implicated products on September 15, 2006.  Four other companies have issued secondary recalls because they received the recalled product from Natural Selections.  See below for a complete list of brand names that are subject of the recalls.  Spinach processed by other manufacturers has not been implicated in the outbreak...more

KEY FACTS & INFORMATION

• The FDA reports that 26 states have reported numerous cases of food-borne illness caused by E. coli 0157:H7 linked to consuming fresh raw spinach including 29 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, 97 hospitalizations and one death. State and federal health officials have used genetic screening tools to confirm that all 187 people sickened by the disease suffered from the same bacteria. Illnesses continue to be reported to the CDC. This is considered to be an ongoing investigation.
   
• Spinach implicated in the current outbreak was grown in the California counties of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara only. Other produce grown in these counties are not affected. Spinach from the rest of the U.S. has not been implicated in the current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. The public can be confident that spinach grown in the non-implicated areas can be consumed.
   
• Processed spinach, including frozen and canned spinach, is not implicated in this outbreak.
     
• There are no reported cases in North Carolina that have been linked to this outbreak or to consumption of fresh spinach.
   
• States involved so far are Arizona (7), California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3), Idaho (4), Illinois (1), Indiana (9), Kentucky (8), Maine (3), Michigan (4), Minnesota (2), Nebraska (9), Nevada (1), New Mexico (5), New York (11), Ohio (24), Oregon (6), Pennsylvania (8), Tennessee (1), Utah (18), Virginia (2), Washington (3), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (47) and Wyoming (1). One fatality has been reported.  Canada has confirmed one case of E. coli 0157:H7 positively matched to the outbreak strain in a person who ate bagged spinach.  The affected products were also distributed to Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Iceland. No illnesses have been reported from these countries.
   
• Other produce grown in the three California counties identified above has not been implicated in this outbreak. Processed spinach (frozen and canned) is also not implicated in this outbreak. 
     
• On Sept. 22, there were two additional recalls of spinach or spinach-containing products. Pacific Coast Fruit Company of Portland, OR, recalled spinach and salads containing spinach under the following brands: Chef On the Run, Trader Joe's, and My Brother's Pizza.  On the same day, Triple B Corp., doing business as S.T. Produce, of Seattle, WA, recalled spinach or spinach-containing salads under the following brand names: NWG, Charlie's and T/H. These had a use by date of 8/22 to 9/20. Products were distributed only in Alaska, Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
   
• On Sept. 19, RLB Food Distributors, L.P., West Caldwell, N.J., announced a voluntary recall of certain salad products that may contain raw spinach with an "Enjoy Thru" date of Sept. 20.
   
• River Ranch of Salinas, CA, announced a recall of packages of spring mix containing spinach Sept. 17.  The brands involved are Fresh N Easy Spring Mix and Hy-Vee Spring mix – both of which contain baby spinach.
   
• Natural Selections Foods of San Juan Bautista, CA, announced a recall of all of its products Sept. 15, that contain spinach in all brands they pack with the "Best if used by dates" of Aug. 17 through Oct. 1. This includes spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend – both retail and food service products.
   
• Food service establishments including restaurants, institutional cafeterias, child care centers, schools, etc., should not serve or sell fresh bulk or bagged spinach at this time unless they are certain that it did not originate in the affected California counties.
   
• Washing will not remove the E. coli bacteria.
   
• The most common ways people become infected with E. coli are:
  • From animal-to-person or from person-to-person: This can happen when people do not wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, especially before eating, after using the toilet or changing diapers, or after being in contact with animals (including livestock) or animal droppings.
  • Eating raw or rare meat, especially hamburger that has been contaminated.
  • Eating raw foods that have been contaminated with E. coli.
  • Drinking unpasteurized milk or juice.
  • Swimming in or drinking water contaminated with E. coli.
     
• Symptoms of E. coli are watery diarrhea, which commonly progresses to bloody diarrhea, no fever or low fever, nausea and, infrequently, vomiting. Incubation period is anywhere from two to 10 days but averages about three to four days. Adults can transmit the disease for up to one week, while children are often contagious for up to three weeks.
   
• Anyone who becomes ill after eating fresh spinach should contact a doctor right away. Adults will commonly be sick for a week or so and get better. The more severe cases usually involve high-risk populations such as the elderly, the very young and the immune-compromised (cancer patients, people with HIV, diabetics, transplant patients, etc). Severe cases can progress to fatal kidney failure.
   
• The state epidemiologist reports that North Carolina's health care providers are prepared to respond if any cases develop in North Carolina.

Brands involved in the recalls are:

• Balducci's Mesclun Mix
• Balducci's Mixed Greens
• FreshPro Organic Baby Spinach
• FreshPro Salad Mix with Italian Dressing
• Fresh N' Easy Spring Mix
• Natural Selections Foods
• Earthbound Farm
• Dole
• Emeril
• O Organic
• River Ranch
• Nature's Basket
• Compliments
• Ready Pac
• Cheney Brothers
• Green Harvest
• Mills Family Farm
• SnoBoy
• Tanimura & Antle
• Cross Valley

• Balducci's Organic Baby Spinach
• FreshPro Mesclun
• FreshPro Mixed Greens
• FreshPro Salad Mix with Ranch Dressing
• Hyvee Spring Mix
• Pride of San Juan
• Bellissima
• Rave Spinach
• Sysco
• Fresh Point
• Superior
• Pro-Mark
• Trader Joe's
• Jansal Valley
• D'Arrigo Brothers
• Mann
• Premium Fresh
• The Farmer's Market
• Presidents Choice
• Riverside Farms

The affected products were also distributed to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Iceland.  No illnesses have been reported from these countries.