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Tainted Spinach Toll Rises

Recalls Widen as Authorities Seek Source of Outbreak

September 20, 2006

• California Burger Patties Recalled • Final Verdict on 2006 Spinach E. Coli Outbreak: Unknown • Consumer Groups Want FDA to Regulate Sanitation on Farms • Irradiation Could Reduce Food-Borne Illness • E. Coli In Spinach Linked To Manure • FBI Probes E. coli Outbreak • Food Safety Expert Sees More Trouble Ahead • Sensor May Speed E. Coli Detection • Two More Spinach Deaths Reported • Tainted Spinach Toll Rises • Second Company Named in Contaminated Spinach Outbreak • California Spinach Blamed for E. coli Outbreak • E. coli Outbreak in Bagged Spinach --- • Consumer complaints about Contaminated Spinach

To date, fresh spinach tainted with a particularly virulent strain of the E. coli bacteria is suspected of making 131 consumers in 21 states ill. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says one death has also been attributed to the E. coli outbreak.

Among the 131 cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FDA says 20 cases are what's known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which primarily affects children. As of late Tuesday the CDC had reported 66 hospitalizations due to the current outbreak.

So far, the FDA says confirmed cases of E. coli linked to fresh spinach have been reported in California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Harvey of Beverly Hills, California, said he became ill after eating packaged spinach from Trader Joe's.

"I spent five days in the hospital ... sweats, fever, severe pain, muscle spasms. I need more testing to determine long term damage," Harvey said in a complaint to ConsumerAffairs.com.

At one Trader Joe's in Virginia visited by a reporter last week, a chirpy sign above an empty salad bin cheerily told shoppers spinach had been removed "for your safety" even though it claimed "no one has gotten sick from our spinach." An employee questioned by the reporter said she was unaware the company's spinach had been implicated in the outbreak.

Alex of Piedmont, California, said he had eaten Earthbound Farm's spinach before falling ill. He was sick from August 30 until Sept. 3 and was treated with the antibiotic Cipro for five days. Alex said he suffered from "non-stop diarrhea, extreme pain and dehydration."

The FDA said it advises consumers to not eat fresh spinach or products that contain fresh spinach until further notice. If consumers believe they may have experienced symptoms of illness after consuming fresh spinach or fresh spinach-containing products, the agency says they should seek medical advice immediately.

Late last week, Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, announced a voluntary recall of all products containing spinach in all brands they pack with "Best if Used by Dates" of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006.

These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and food service products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands include: Natural Selection Foods, Pride of San Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point, River Ranch, Superior, Nature's Basket, Pro-Mark, Compliments, Trader Joe's, Ready Pac, Jansal Valley, Cheney Brothers, D'Arrigo Brothers, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer's Market, Tanimura & Antle, President's Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms.

The affected products were also distributed to Canada, Mexico, and Taiwan. No illnesses have been reported from these countries. FDA continues to investigate whether other companies and brands are involved.

Early this week River Ranch, of Salinas, California, announced a voluntary recall of packages of spring mix containing spinach. River Ranch obtained bulk spring mix containing spinach from Natural Selections.

The recalled brands include: Fresh N' Easy Spring Mix and Hy-Vee Spring mix containing baby spinach, distributed to retailers in Texas, Iowa and New Mexico. Product was packed in 5 oz. bags and 5 oz. plastic trays. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

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