September 15, 2006

FDA Advises Consumers to Toss Out Bagged Spinach

The FDA announced Sept. 14 that due to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, consumers should dispose of all bagged spinach products and all salad mixes that include spinach.

The broad advisory from the FDA was the result of a lack of evidence about where the contaminated spinach originated from or where it was distributed. Health officials have not been able to link the contamination to a region, grower, supplier or brand, said Arthur Whitmore, public affairs specialist for FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to the Associated Press. Whitmore said the fingerprints are the same in each case, and FDA is working with state officials to confirm the source of each case.

According to FDA, one person has died and 50 have been made sick, with eight of those suffering from kidney failure. Eight states have reported illnesses, including Wisconsin with 19 cases, Utah with seven, Oregon with six, Indiana with four, Idaho with three, Michigan with three and New Mexico with two. The Associated Press reported that the death occurred in Wisconsin.

“Given the severity of this illness and the seriousness of the outbreak, FDA believes that a warning to consumers is needed. We are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the problem,” said Robert Brackett, director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

Jerry Welcome, executive vice president of business development for United Fresh Produce Association, said United Fresh was working closely with FDA and other industry organizations and would keep its members informed. He said because the cause of the contamination is unknown, he supports the FDA’s decision.

“They did the prudent thing that they had to do,” Welcome said. “I think they took the appropriate action.”

More information is expected from FDA Friday afternoon. Fresh Cut will update its Web site as information becomes available.


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