Spinach E Coli Outbreak Forces Stores To Pull Product

The FDA put out a warning to the nation warning that fresh spinach may be infected with E-coli and 1 person has died and 100’s of others are sick in this outbreak. The report has caused stores to pull their inventory nationwide. Cases of the e coli poisoning from fresh spinach include Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming, The reports from school lunchrooms of wild celebrations have not been confirmed.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to eat fresh spinach and Natural Selection Foods LLC recalled its packaged spinach throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. The move came as a precaution after federal health officials said some of those hospitalized reported eating brands of prepackaged spinach distributed by the company. The officials stressed that the bacteria had not been isolated in products sold by the holding company, based in San Juan Bautista, Calif., and known for Earthbound Farm and other brands. As the investigation continues, other brands may be implicated, officials said. via  Yahoo! News

UPDATE: Second Company Is Implicated in Outbreak Linked to Spinach

A second company in California has been implicated in the E. coli outbreak linked to spinach, the Food and Drug Administration said late Sunday, and the number of identified victims is still rising.

The newly identified company, River Ranch Fresh Foods, obtained salad that included spinach from the first company implicated, Natural Selection Foods of San Juan Bautista, Calif. The spinach that passed through River Ranch was sold under the brand names Farmers Market, Hy-Vee, and Fresh and Easy.

The investigation is proceeding in what amounts to a rearview mirror, with state and local health officials receiving reports of illness, asking people what they ate and searching for the source. To identify the new company, officials examined Natural Selection’s records and found it had supplied River Ranch. (NY Times)