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2006 North American E. coli outbreak in spinach

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In September 2006, there was an outbreak of food-borne illness caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria found in uncooked spinach[1] in 26 U.S. states.[2]

As of October 03, 2006 192 people have been infected, including one person who died and 30 who suffered a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome[2] after eating spinach contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium that causes bloody diarrhea and dehydration.[3] This strain is more potent than in any other food poisoning scares. Federal health officials said half of those reported sick have been hospitalised, compared to 25 to 30 percent in past outbreaks.[4]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for bagged fresh spinach to be removed from shelves and warned people not to eat any kind of fresh spinach or fresh spinach-containing products.[5][3] The FDA has also stated that washing the spinach is insufficient to sanitize it because the bacteria is systemic, meaning that it is not just on the outside of the spinach, but that it has been absorbed through the roots and is now inside the spinach. The FDA has since reduced its warning to certain brands with specific dates.[6] The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has advised consumers not to eat fresh spinach from the U.S., including bagged, loose in bulk or in salad blends.[7]

Cause

Spinach

The outbreak was traced to bagged fresh spinach grown on the spinach fields of Salinas Valley, California. Investigators with the Centers for Disease Control speculate that the dangerous bacteria originated from grazing deer[8] or from irrigation water contaminated with cattle feces. According to CDC official Dr. Patricia M. Griffin, "Cattle...fecal material...can get into nearby rivers and streams... We know that produce is irrigated with water from nearby waterways, and pesticides are applied from waterways near fields. Deer can run through vegetable fields and can carry the fecal material as well."[9]

Two companies in California have voluntarily recalled spinach and spinach-containing products: Natural Selection Foods LLC,[10] based in San Juan Bautista, and River Ranch Fresh Foods.[10][11][12] Natural Selection 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. Affected brands from River Ranch include Hy-Vee, Farmer's Market and Fresh and Easy. Later, a third company, RLB Food Distributors, issued a multiple East Coast states recall of spinach-containing salad products for possible E. coli contamination.[13]

Natural Selection Foods announced on September 18, 2006 that its organic produce has now been cleared of contamination by an independent agency, but did not lift the recalls on any of its organic brands.[14] On September 22, Earthbound Farm announced that the FDA and the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) have confirmed that its organic spinach has not been contaminated with E. coli.[15]

Impact

States and provinces affected by the E. coli outbreak are marked in red

As of October 03, 2006, 26 states are affected, and at least 192 cases[2] of the disease are currently reported; 10 cases are reported to be serious, with one death in Wisconsin, as well as two suspected related deaths, a 2 year old in Utah and an elderly woman in Maryland.[16] Spinach has also been distributed to Canada and Mexico; one case has been reported in Canada.[17][18] There have been over 400 produce-related outbreaks in North America since 1990.[19]

The areas reported to be affected are:[20]

Economic impact

In California, where three-quarters of all domestically grown spinach is harvested, farmers could endure up to $74 million in losses due to the E. coli outbreak. In 2005, the spinach crop in California was valued at $258.3 million, and each acre lost amounts to a roughly $3,500 loss for the farmer.[4]

Effects of E. coli O157:H7

Further information: Escherichia coli O157:H7

E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestines of all animals, including humans. Almost all strains are harmless bacteria which can help suppress the growth of harmful bacteria and can synthesize some vitamins. However, a few strains of E. coli, including the enterohemorrhagic strain O157:H7, are harmful. E. coli O157:H7 produces a potent shiga-like toxin, verotoxin, which can damage the lining of the intestine. Infection with E. coli O157:H7 causes hemorrhagic colitis, a disease characterized by severe abdominal pain and diarrhea which is initially watery but may turn bloody. The disease is usually self-limiting. However, its complications include the hemolytic uremic syndrome, characterized by renal failure and hemolytic anemia which may lead to permanent loss of kidney function.[21]

Timeline

On September 14, 2006, the FDA warned consumers about an "E. coli" outbreak that was tied to bags of fresh spinach. The FDA reported that they received complaints from 19 states in the United States.[11][1] The FDA advised "that consumers not eat bagged fresh spinach."[1] Three days later, their updated warning said not to eat "fresh spinach or fresh spinach-containing products."[12] On September 17, the United States expanded the warning to avoid all fresh spinach.[3] The Centers for Disease Control issued an official Health Alert, the highest category of alert message, on September 14[22] and started to investigate the E. coli outbreak. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle formally requested federal aid on September 15. His office said the CDC will help assess the causes and the magnitude of the outbreak in his state.[23]

On September 18, Illinois and Nebraska reported their first cases of E. coli infection due to spinach, bringing the total number of affected states to 21. Ohio public health officials are investigating a 2-year-old's death that may also be linked.[24]

As of September 18, the number of people sickened by the E. coli laced fresh spinach reached 111.[25]

On September 19, it was reported that there may be a link to a further death in Ohio and irrigation water is being investigated as a possible source.[26][27] This is the 9th outbreak traced to the Salinas Valley in California and the 25th leafy green E. coli outbreak (spinach or lettuce) in the United States since 1993.[28]

On September 20, the CDC announced that the genetic fingerprint, a PFGE pattern, of E. coli O157 isolated from an opened package of "Dole Baby Spinach, Best if Used by August 30" packed by Natural Selection in the refrigerator of an ill New Mexico resident matched that of the outbreak strain.[29] On september 25, Consumer advocates and lawmakers started to urge for tougher rules for fields and processing plants.[30]

On September 27, a Pittsford woman has filed a lawsuit concerning this matter, stating that the tainted spinach has made her ill. See Pittsford Woman Files Tainted Spinach Lawsuit. This source also states that numerous other lawsuits are being filed nationwide.

On September 29, the FDA downgraded the warning, now only warning against specific brands packaged on specific dates, instead of just fresh spinach in general.[6]

On October 5, 06 the FBI has launched a criminal investigation into this matter. See Criminal Probe launched into the Spinach E. coli incident, and FBI investigates Spinach E. coli incident as a criminal matter, CBS News: Feds investigate outbreak, Feds investigate E. coli incident

There are currently 192 cases of illness including 98 hospitalizations and 30 patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome.[2]

Lettuce?

In early October, 2006, it has been announced that lettuce may be affected as well. 3

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak". FDA. 2006-09-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d "Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 3, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c "U.S. expands warning to cover all fresh spinach". Reuters. 2006-09-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "E. coli On Spinach May Have Been Extra Potent". WFSB. 2006-09-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ FDA: FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach, #P06-133, September 16, 2006
  6. ^ a b (Reuters)
  7. ^ "Expanded health hazad alert. Varous brands of imported fresh spinach may contain E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria". CFIA. 2006-9-18. Retrieved 2006-09-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ "The truth about the E. coli outbreak". Salon.com. 2006-09-22. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ "CDC musters attack on E. coli spinach illness". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2006-09-17. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ a b Natural Selection Foods
  11. ^ a b "FDA: E. coli linked to Natural Selection Foods". CNN. 2006-09-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b "FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach". FDA. 2006-09-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "RLB Food Distributors Issues a Multiple East Coast States Recall of Fresh Spinach Salad Products for Possible E. coli Contamination". FDA. 2006-09-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ "Company says organic spinach OK, but E. coli recall still in effect". USA Today. 2006-09-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Consumer Update on e. coli Investigation". Earthbound Farm Organic. 2006-09-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ [1]
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ "E. COLI O157:H7 OUTBREAK IN UNITED STATES ASSOCIATED WITH BAGGED FRESH SPINACH". Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). 2006-09-15. Retrieved 2006-09-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  19. ^ "A selection of North American produce related outbreaks from 1990-2005" (PDF). Food safety network. 2006-05-03. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Case Counts by State". CDC. Retrieved 2006-10-04.
  21. ^ "[[Bad Bug Book]]-Escherichia coli O157:H7". FDA. Retrieved 2006-09-22. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  22. ^ CDC: Multiple States Investigating a Large Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections, September 14, 2006
  23. ^ "CDC Starts To Investigate E. coli Outbreak In Wisconsin". WISC-TV. 2006-09-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ "Ohio tot's death may be linked to tainted spinach". Dayton Daily News. 2006-09-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "E. coli spinach scare increases to 21 states". CNN. 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  26. ^ "Farm water is suspected in outbreak". Mercury News. 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  27. ^ "Death linked to spinach?". Newsday. 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to fresh lettuce and spinach since 1993". Food Safety Network. 2006-09-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach,September 20,2006". CDC. 2006-09-20. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ [3]
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