Outbreak of E. coli in spinach led to widespread public health concerns

December 2006

An outbreak of E. coli that was later linked to spinach consumption created nationwide alarm and much media attention in the autumn of 2006.

Evidence from public health laboratories in New Mexico and Utah eventually linked the outbreak to bagged fresh spinach stemming from one food company: Natural Selection Foods in San Juan Bautista, Calif. The outbreak began in mid-August and lasted until early October. According to CDC data, a total of 199 people in 26 states were infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. Twenty-two of these patients were younger than five years old.

Among those affected by the E. coli outbreak, 102 patients were hospitalized and 31 developed hemolytic-uremic syndrome. A total of three confirmed deaths were associated with the outbreak.

Wisconsin reported the most cases of E. coli. One case was also reported in Canada. According to the FDA, affected products may have also been distributed to Mexico, Taiwan, China and Iceland, though no E. coli-related illnesses were reported in these countries.

Alert issued

In early September, the FDA issued an alert about the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. “Given the severity of this illness and the seriousness of the outbreak, the FDA believes that a warning to consumers is needed,” Robert Brackett, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said in a press release at the time. “We are working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the problem.”

Early evidence from public health laboratories suggested outbreak’s origin might be linked to bagged fresh spinach. In response, FDA officials advised people to avoid consuming bagged spinach or salads containing spinach until further notice. The FDA also urged anyone who had recently consumed bagged spinach and had foodborne illness symptoms to seek health care assistance immediately.

Soon after the investigation began, the source of the outbreak was determined to be spinach grown in three California counties: Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara. Further epidemiological and laboratory evidence traced the outbreak specifically to Natural Selection Foods.

Natural Selection Foods recalled all spinach products under multiple brand names that had a date code of October 1 or earlier. Several other food companies in California also recalled products and sales of spinach decreased throughout the country.

By mid-October, the FDA advised that spinach grown in other areas of the United States is safe to consume. In addition, the FDA said processed spinach (canned and frozen) was also safe. The agency said other foods grown in these three California counties were not affected by the outbreak.

For more information:

• Visit the FDA’s Web site for updates at www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/spinach.html as well as CDC’s Web site for updates at www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach.