I received this this morning. This would include fresh spinach on salad bars as well - unless you KNOW they are using spinach that they literally clean themselves - which is NOT usually the case!!!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P06-131
September 14, 2006
Media Inquiries:
301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA
FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak
One Death and Multiple Hospitalizations in Several States
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an alert to consumers about an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in multiple states that may be associated with the consumption of produce. To date, preliminary epidemiological evidence suggests that bagged fresh spinach may be a possible cause of this outbreak.
Based on the current information, FDA advises that consumers not eat bagged fresh spinach at this time. Individuals who believe they may have experienced symptoms of illness after consuming bagged spinach are urged to contact their health care provider.
“Given the severity of this illness and the seriousness of the outbreak, FDA believes that a warning to consumers is needed. We are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the problem,” said Dr. Robert Brackett, Director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).
E. coli O157:H7 causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. To date, 50 cases of illness have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 8 cases of HUS and one death.
At this time, the investigation is ongoing and states that have reported illnesses to date include: Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin.
FDA will keep consumers informed of the investigation as more information becomes available.
As an add-on, watch out for fresh tofu (not pasteurized, not packaged - the kind you'd get at a street fair. A friend of mine just got e. coli poisoning from tofu at a tofu festival and was in the hospital for a week or so...
Hmmm, I've been eating fresh bagged spinach all week-every day for my lunch salad. I'm assuming since I've been eating it out of the same giant bag, it must be okay or I'd be sick by now . . . . . .
There are certain brands and areas that it is distributed that are affected. In South Florida that brand is not distributed here. Maybe your area is the same Julie.
As far as they are reporting, they haven't isolated a brand yet.
Skip the spinach for now, until they nail down the source conclusively.
Oh, and apparently, my tofu-sickened friend is now apparently being linked as getting the e.coli from spinach, not from the tofu as they originally thought. Scary, scary stuff.
Ladies, I got the information from a Chef's association I belong to and my DH is a VA state meat inspector - so he confirmed it.
The spinach has not been related to a specific brand and according to the noon report, could be in grocery stores, on salad bars, in restaurants, hospitals, etc.
Also let me add this - DO NOT THINK YOU CAN KILL THE E. COLI BY WASHING OR EVEN COOKING THE SPINACH! IF YOU HAVE BAGGED SPINACH - THROW IT OUT FOR NOW!
Better safe than sorry!
Well-there are several cases in Oregon. I have a spinach salad for lunch that I think is OK-I would've gotten sick by now if there was a problem, right?
Not necessarily! Until they figure out where the problem is coming from and what batches of packages may be infectious, there is no way to know if any fresh spinach you eat is safe or not, no matter how long you've been eating it before.
Yes, I saw it last night too. I bought bagged Spinach at the grocery store last night before I saw it too. However, I just returned it this morning and got my money back.
I did notice they had also pulled all the bagged spinach from the produce area...
Well - I just wanted all the ladies here (I also posted it on the support forum) to be educated just in case. No need to panic!
Juliemarie - your odds are good that you're fine and I wouldn't worry about it! If you've been eating the same bag with no worries, I'd say throw the rest away but believe that you are safe! (I just prayed for you!)
I'm not particularly a "gloom and doom" sort of person - so please, just be aware of the danger.
Personally, I bless my food and believe that God protects me from harm.
E. Coli Outbreak - Spinach - SERIOUS!!
However, I just returned it this morning and got my money back. 
