Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 21:25, 24 September 2006

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

In September 2006, there was an outbreak of food-borne illness caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria found in uncooked spinach in 25 U.S. states.

As of September 24, 2006, one person has died, and 171 people have fallen ill, including 27 who suffered a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome after eating spinach contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium that causes bloody diarrhea and dehydration. 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.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has 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. 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.

Cause

The outbreak was traced to bagged fresh spinach. Two companies in California have voluntarily recalled spinach and spinach-containing products: Natural Selection Foods LLC, based in San Juan Bautista, and River Ranch Fresh Foods. 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.

Impact

As of September 23, 2006, 25 states are affected, and at least 171 cases 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. Spinach has also been distributed to Canada and Mexico, although there have been no cases related to the current outbreak reported in Canada. There have been over 400 produce-related outbreaks in North America since 1990.

The areas reported to be affected are:

Effects of E. coli O157:H7

E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestines of all animals, including humans. Almost all strains are harmless bacterium 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. Hemolytic uremic syndrome also contributes to thrombocytopenic purpura which has a high mortality rate in the elderly.

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. The FDA advised "that consumers not eat bagged fresh spinach." Three days later, their updated warning said not to eat "fresh spinach or fresh spinach-containing products." On September 17, the United States expanded the warning to avoid all fresh spinach. The Centers for Disease Control issued an official Health Alert, the highest category of alert message, on September 14 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.

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.

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

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. 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.

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.

There are currently 172 cases of illness including 92 hospitalizations and 27 patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome.

See also

• List of foodborne illness outbreaks

References

1. ^ "FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak". FDA. 2006-09-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. ^ "Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. September 23, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. ^ "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. ^ Natural Selection Foods
7. ^ "FDA: E. coli linked to Natural Selection Foods". CNN. 2006-09-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. ^ "FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach". FDA. 2006-09-17. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. "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)
10. "E. COLI O157:H7 OUTBREAK IN UNITED STATES ASSOCIATED WITH BAGGED FRESH SPINACH". 2006-09-15. Retrieved 2006-09-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
11. "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)
12. "E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Case Counts by State". CDC. Retrieved 2006-09-24.
13. "[[Bad Bug Book]]-Escherichia coli O157:H7". FDA. Retrieved 2006-09-22. {{cite web}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
14. CDC: Multiple States Investigating a Large Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections, September 14, 2006
15. "CDC Starts To Investigate E. coli Outbreak In Wisconsin". WISC-TV. 2006-09-16. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. "Ohio tot's death may be linked to tainted spinach". Dayton Daily News. 2006-09-18. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
17. "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)
18. "Farm water is suspected in outbreak". Mercury News. 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
19. "Death linked to spinach?". Newsday. 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
20. "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)
21. "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)

External links

• E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak from Fresh Spinach by CDC.
• More news about the case

Template:Interwiki-category-check

• Current events
• Food safety
• Medical disasters