Los Angeles Times, "Number of E. Coli Cases Rises to 114"

Some growers decry what they call the government's too-strict advisory on spinach consumption, citing financial losses

          California farmers voiced frustration Monday at the government's continuing advisory that consumers avoid all fresh spinach. But federal authorities defended their action, as the tally of those sickened in a nationwide E. coli outbreak rose to 114.
          Though expressing concern for the health of consumers, growers said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision was too broad and could have a devastating financial effect even on farms not implicated in the outbreak.
          "I don't think the problem is the commodity as a whole. It's not spinach. It's something specific to a ranch, a shed, an operation," said Dominic Muzzi Jr., vice president of Watsonville Produce, whose spinach cleaning and bagging business has been halted. "The whole spinach industry is on hold until the FDA can be more specific," said Muzzi's sister Lisa, the accounting manager.

Learn more about e. coli and injuries from tainted spinach and spinach injury lawsuits.