Spinach Recall & E. Coli Food Poisoning Outbreak Update

The Food and Drug Administration is currently considering stricter guidelines for food handling safety as a result of the 2006 E. Coli outbreak linked to contaminated spinach. Despite voluntary guidelines for handling fresh fruits and vegetables that have been in place since 1998, problems persist because of the growing processed produce industry.

On October 10, 2006, the FDA confirmed that two more deaths were attributed to the e. coli outbreak in spinach, bringing the total affected to three people killed and 199 people sickened, with 31 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome kidney, and 102 hospitalizations.

The FDA traced the most recent outbreak of E. coli bacteria poisoning to Natural Selection Foods LLC of San Juan Bautista, California in September 2006. Though it lifted its general ban on fresh spinach, it continued to warn consumers not to eat spinach from Natural Selection or any of the companies it supplied. Public health investigators are currently looking for the source of E. coli bacteria in spinach. The FDA has executed two search warrants on Growers Express in Salinas, California, and Natural Selection Foods in San Bautista, California, in connection with the outbreak.

The ongoing investigation is being carried out by the FDA and the California Department of Health Safety's Food and Drug Branch, beginning with farms that grew the suspect spinach for California’s Natural Selection, the first of several spinach producers targeted in this investigation. The inquiry will review irrigation methods, harvest conditions and other practices at farms. The spinach may have become contaminated in the field or during processing.

The FDA, the CDC and the State of California, has determined that the spinach implicated in the outbreak was grown in the following California counties: Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara.

Spinach producers are currently voluntarily recalling their products. Follow this link for a complete list of the recalled spinach brands.

List of Recalled Brands

Natural Selection Foods, which grows spinach in the Salinas Valley, California recalled the spinach sold under 34 brands with "Best if Used by Dates" of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006. Federal authorities have also identified five more packers/distributers linked to the contamination River Ranch of California, RLB Food Distributors, L.P., of West Caldwell, NJ, S.T. Produce, of Seattle, Washington, Pacific Coast Fruit Company of Portland, Oregon, and Kenter Canyon Farms, Inc., of Sun Valley, California, all of whom purchased spinach from Natural Selection. Click here for a list of all spinach brands that have been recalled.

Lieff Cabraser represents persons across America who suffered serious injuries from dangerous products. Click here to submit your case.

Spinach & E. Coli Warnings
General information including FDA advisories

Spinach Recall
Places affected by the spinach recall

Spinach Brands
List of recalled brands of spinach suspected of E. coli contamination

E. Coli Food Poisoning
What is E. coli and what are the symptoms of E. Coli food poisoning

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The Danger from Contaminated Spinach & Advice for Consumers

The current cases of E. coli poisoning are the latest in a string of 20 food-poisioning outbreaks since 1995 that have been linked to spinach or lettuce. At least eight of these outbreaks were tied to produce grown in the Salinas Valley of California.

In November 2005, 10 months before the current outbreak of E. coli, the FDA sent a letter to growers, packers, processors and shippers, warning them to improve produce safety.

The Centers for Disease Control warns that while boiling contaminated spinach can kill the bateria, washing alone won't eliminate it. Just preparing spinach for cooking can spread the E. coli to other surfaces and cause cross-contamination. Until further notice, the FDA warns against consuming any fresh spinach, bagged or unbagged.

Please visit the FDA's website for additional information on the recall.

Spinach E. Coli Poisoning and Legal Assistance

If you or a family member have suffered a serious injury or a loved one died after being exposed to E. coli from tainted spinach, you may be eligible to file a claim. Please click here to contact an attorney at Lieff Cabraser to discuss your legal rights at no cost or obligation. We will handle all inquiries with the strictest confidentiality and sensitivity.

You are also welcome to call us toll-free at 1 (866) 313-1973; Visitors from Canada and other nations can call (615) 313-9000. Please ask to speak with injury lawyer Kathryn E. Barnett.

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