Released: September 15, 2006

FDA warns against eating bagged fresh spinach

Source: By Gardiner Harris, New York Times (Free Registration)

Consumers should avoid eating fresh bagged spinach after an outbreak of E. coli in eight states killed one person and sickened at least 49, the Federal Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday night.

The outbreak involves a virulent strain of E. coli known as 0157:H7, which produces a toxin that can lead to bloody diarrhea, kidney failure and, in rare cases, death.

State and federal health officials have used genetic screening tools to confirm that all 50 people sickened by the disease suffered from the same bacteria, said Dr. David Acheson of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the F.D.A.

But health officials still have no idea which food manufacturer may be to blame. The first case was reported on Aug. 23 and the most recent on Sept. 3, Dr. Acheson said.

“It’s increasing by the day,” Dr. Acheson said. “We may be at the peak, we may not. We’re giving preliminary data here.”

Dr. Acheson said the F.D.A. became aware of a possible outbreak on Wednesday. But delays are common as information is gathered and compared, he said.

“It takes quite some time for someone to be exposed, get sick, get sick enough to see the doctor, have it examined, have a sample sent to a lab, have it confirmed positive and have it be put in the public health system,” Dr. Acheson said.

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