On September 14th, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert to consumers about an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in multiple states. The evidence suggested that bagged fresh spinach was a possible cause of the outbreak, so the FDA advised consumers to not eat bagged fresh spinach. The FDA later expanded the warning to say that consumers should not eat any "fresh spinach or salad blends containing fresh spinach that are consumed raw." People are now advised to avoid fresh spinach, or salad mixes that were grown in the three counties in California implicated in the current E. coli O157:H7 outbreak -- Monterey County, San Benito County, and Santa Clara County. Earthbound Farm conducted a voluntary recall of its bagged spinach; E-coli was found in bags of "conventional" spinach in the possession of two afflicted people. Growers, salad processors, consumers, retailers and government officials have come together as perhaps they never have before, in their attempts to find the source/s of the E-coli.

This strain of E. coli causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people, particularly young children and the elderly, can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). 171 people are reported to have been sickened, and one to two people have died of kidney failure so far.

It has been difficult for the FDA to discern the exact source of the E-coli. It seems to have been narrowed down to several farms in the Salinas Valley. The E-coli could have gotten into the soil or water in several ways. Cows from neighboring farms could have wandered into spinach fields and defecated. Farm laborers who do not have enough access to bathrooms could have simply defecated in spinach fields. Many organic growers import composted manure to use as fertilizer. "Processed" sewage sludge could have been used as a fertilizer for spinach farms. Many place the blame on the factory farming system. Large dairy farms can yield fecal runoff in rainy weather, and cattle that eat grain instead of pasture grasses can have more acidic stomachs and more E-coli in their manure. Supporters of organic farming methods point out that none of the E-coli cases have been attributed to organic spinach, and that a spread of disease such as this can only occur in an industrial context. Organic Consumers Association statement | California Certified Organic Farmers statement

Companies such as River Ranch Foods, which has been cleared as E-coli free by the FDA, have taken to advertising that their products are E-coli-free. The FDA had been preparing for an outbreak of this size for some time: Lettuce Safety Initiative (USDA's 2005 Letter to Growers) Organic Pastures has been told to stop producing raw milk for the retail market after several children were reportedly sickened with E-coli after consuming milk products That company says, "Our raw dairy foods are an outstanding source of nutrients, including beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus, vitamins, immunoglobulins, and enzymes..." CDFA recalls

Hey, FDA! Ethnic Americans Eat Spinach, Too! | US Food and Drug Administration | CDC's E-Coli Outbreak from Fresh Spinach Page | Statement from Natural Selection Foods | Western Growers | UC Veg. Research & Informnation Center | California Farm Bureau Federation | Cornucopia Institute | Center for Food Safety | Community Alliance with Family Farmers