Three California Counties Source of E. coli, FDA Says

The FDA has narrowed down the source of the E. coli outbreak to three counties in California.

California health inspectors and FDA inspectors are testing fields in Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties. A hydrologist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health is also in California working with FDA and state health officials to find the cause of the contamination.

Produce industry groups are now working with FDA to introduce spinach from other growing areas back into the market.

“It is also now important that producers and distributors of safe and healthy spinach from other areas now cleared in this outbreak are given a clear signal by FDA that this perishable commodity is acceptable to be marketed,” said Tom Stenzel, president and CEO of United Fresh Produce Association. “Our entire industry has followed FDA’s public health advice and shut down spinach movement from all sectors of the country. Consumers need to know that any tainted spinach has been fully removed from the marketplace, that the source of this outbreak has been narrowed greatly, and that safe and healthy spinach is once again becoming available in the marketplace.”

The Produce Marketing Association, with partners United Fresh, Western Growers Association and Alliance for Food and Farming, will host a town hall conference call Friday, Sept. 22, for members of the industry. David Acheson from the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition will participate in the discussion.

The number of people made sick by the outbreak has risen to 157, according to the CDC. Of those, 83 required hospitalization, 27 developed kidney failure and one died. CDC reported that Idaho is investigating the death of a 2-year-old who died Sept. 20 from kidney failure. Idaho has already confirmed four cases of E. coli.