E. coli Found in Bag of Spinach, More States Affected

The New Mexico Department of Health announced Thursday, Sept. 21, that it has confirmed E. coli in a bagged spinach product. The spinach was retrieved from the house of a patient who consumed it before becoming ill.

The FDA is reporting that the bagged spinach is Dole brand Baby Spinach with a “Best If Used By” date of Aug. 30. The Dole spinach products were included in the recall announced by Natural Selection Foods, San Juan Bautista, Calif.

FDA is still advising that consumers not eat fresh spinach. However, on Sept. 20, FDA reported it had no evidence that frozen or canned spinach or spinach in pre-made meals is contaminated.

FDA added two states, Arizona and Colorado, to the list of states affected, bringing the total to 23. As of Sept. 20, 146 cases have been confirmed, with 76 people hospitalized, 23 cases of kidney failure and one death. E. coli has sickened consumers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.