FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli Outbreak in Spinach

As of Sunday Sept. 17, 109 cases of illness due to E. coli infection have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including 16 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and one death. People continue to report illnesses to CDC. This is considered an ongoing investigation.

E. coli O157:H7 causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called HUS. HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

A total of 19 confirmed states have been touched by the outbreak: California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

FDA advises consumers to not eat fresh spinach or products that contain fresh spinach until further notice. If individuals believe they may have experienced symptoms of illness after consuming fresh spinach or products that contain fresh spinach, FDA recommends that they seek medical advice.

FDA has been informed that River Ranch Fresh Foods, Salinas, CA, is recalling packages of spring mix containing spinach. The company obtained bulk spring mix containing spinach from Natural Selection Foods, San Juan Bautista, CA. The following brands are involved: Farmers Market, Hy Vee, Fresh and Easy. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

Natural Selection Foods is recalling all of its products containing spinach in all brands they pack with "Best if Used by Dates" of Aug. 17, 2006 through Oct. 1, 2006. These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and foodservice products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

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

The affected products were also distributed to Canada and Mexico. FDA continues to investigate whether other companies and brands are involved.

FDA developed the Lettuce Safety Initiative (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/lettsafe.html) in response to recurring outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in lettuce. As a result of this outbreak, FDA has expanded the initiative to cover spinach. The primary goals of the initiative are to reduce public-health risks by focusing on the product, agents and areas of greatest concern and to alert consumers early and respond rapidly in the event of an outbreak. This initiative is based on the 2004 Produce Safety Action Plan, intended to minimize the incidence of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of fresh produce.

FDA continues to work closely with CDC and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the E. coli outbreak in spinach. Please check http://www.fda.gov for updates.