Travel notes for horse breeders, equestrian competitors, buyers and sellers of horses.

E.coli bacteria Spinach outbreak in the USA--September 2006; followed by Lettuce E.Coli found in Oct

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E.coli bacteria Spinach outbreak in the USA--September 2006; followed by Lettuce E.Coli found in Oct
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News and resources regarding the late summer 2006 E.coli outbreak due to Spinach in the United States. 
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a leading cause of foodborne illness.
E. coli O157:H7 is one of hundreds of strains of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless, this strain produces a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness.

LETTUCE RECALL DUE TO E.COLI
Lettuce from Nunes producers in Salinas, California recalled on October 9, 2006.  For list of states affected,
See full story at:
 
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In an Oct. 9, 2006 article on the finding of E.coli in LETTUCE from a Salinas, California, WebMd.com stated that Spinach had been cleared to eat.
See the full story at WebMd.com
 
On Oct. 3, 2006, MSN news ran a story with the headline that the "FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA) has said that spinach has been given the all clear to eat".
 
There is no FDA or CDC statement to this effect other than previous info that processed spinach and that which is boiled over 160 degrees for over 15 seconds is considered safe.  No clearing of packaged, fresh spinach.
Check updates below.
After checking major commercial news sources, could not find any further info on this development.
Let me know if you have found any!
 

The outbreak of cases of E.coli associated with packaged Spinach that was processed in three counties of southern California, USA, has definitely been “in the news”.

Below are some direct links to information from the United States government Health centers on the outbreak.

Basic advice—do not eat packaged Spinach, or any combination of leafy green vegetables that include Spinach.

So far, only Spinach is affected.  (However, see the information from FDA below on the Lettuce Safety Initiative that has been enacted for Fall 2006 in order to assure that the Lettuce supply is safe.  Leafy vegetables are most often affected.)

The source of the problem has been identified, and all packages of Spinach related to this company and the secondary companies and California processing plants have been removed from the grocery stores and recalled.

 

FOLLOWING ARE SOME OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION THAT IS CURRENT

 

CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL, USA

 

DAILY UPDATES ON THE CURRENT SITUATION OF E-COLI OUTBREAK IN THE UNITED STATES DUE TO INFECTED PACKAGED SPINACH

http://www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach/

Updated daily by the Center for Disease Control in the United States, which is an agency of the United States government.

 

ADVICE TO CONSUMERS REGARDING SPINACH IN THE UNITED STATES

http://www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach/consumeradvice.htm

Cook spinach to 160 degrees (boiling point is over 200 degrees) before eating.  This should kill any E.coli.

 

DAILY UPDATED MAP OF THE UNITED STATES RECORDING NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED BY STATE

http://www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach/case_count_us_map.htm

Interestingly, California, the source of the outbreak has only one case listed.  Hardest hit are Ohio, New York, Utah, Wisconsin and some others.

 

Basic Information on E-Coli from the U.S.A. Center for Disease Control

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/escherichiacoli_g.htm

Generally associated with undercooked meat, can also affect leafy vegetables, etc.  Washing vegetables is not entirely effective to kill E.coli.

Other methods of transmission are included in this information sheet.

Wash your hands after using the bathroom.

Early warning signs—blood in stool.

Antibiodics do not affect.

Extreme cases go into a kidney failure requiring transfusions and dialysis.

 

PDF Flyer about the Outbreak of Spinach E.coli

http://www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach/pdf/factsheet_ecoli_spinach.pdf

Basic cautions and warnings

 

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, USA

 

 

GeneralList of all press releases

http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/spinach.html

 

SPINACH AND E.COLI--SEPTEMBER 29, 2006

FDA Announces Findings From Investigation of Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach
Includes extended list of packagers recalled.

Notice of a “lettuce safety action” as a preventative measure in Fall 2006.

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01474.html

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT E.COLI-SPINACH OUTBREAK

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/spinacqa.html#what

basic same info as above

 

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INITIATIVE TO PROTECT LETTUCE--August 23, 2006

Initiative to protect Lettuce

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/lettsafe.html

 

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For more information, just run a search on any search engine or any news/information site.

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L.Robinson, agent
L.Robinson is a professional equine agent that markets horses for breeders and owners and finds horses for those looking for them.
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