2006 North American E. coli outbreak
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In September 2006, there was an outbreak of food-borne illness caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria found in uncooked spinach<ref name="fda14">FDA Warning on Serious Foodborne E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak. FDA (2006-09-14).</ref> in 26 U.S. states.<ref name="cdc">Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (October 3, 2006). Retrieved on 2006-10-06.</ref>
As of October 06, 2006 199 people have been infected, including three people who died and 31 who suffered a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome<ref name="cdc"/> after eating spinach contaminated with the E. coli O157:H7, a potentially deadly bacterium that causes bloody diarrhea and dehydration.<ref name="reuters">"U.S. expands warning to cover all fresh spinach", Reuters, 2006-09-17.</ref> This strain is more potent than in any other food poisoning scares. Federal health officials said half of those reported sick have been hospitalized, compared to 25 to 30 percent in past outbreaks.<ref>E. coli On Spinach May Have Been Extra Potent. WFSB (2006-09-20).</ref>
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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.<ref>FDA: FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach, #P06-133, September 16, 2006</ref><ref name="reuters"/> 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. The FDA has since reduced its warning to certain brands with specific dates.<ref name=ReutersFDAreducewarning>(Reuters)</ref> The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has advised consumers not to eat fresh spinach from the U.S., including bagged, loose in bulk or in salad blends.<ref>Expanded health hazad alert. Varous brands of imported fresh spinach may contain E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria. CFIA (2006-9-18). Retrieved on 2006-09-26.</ref>
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[edit] Cause
The outbreak was traced to bagged fresh spinach grown on the spinach fields of Salinas Valley, California. Investigators with the Centers for Disease Control speculate that the dangerous bacteria originated from grazing deer<ref> "The truth about the E. coli outbreak", Salon.com, 2006-09-22.</ref> or from irrigation water contaminated with cattle feces. According to CDC official Dr. Patricia M. Griffin, "Cattle...fecal material...can get into nearby rivers and streams... We know that produce is irrigated with water from nearby waterways, and pesticides are applied from waterways near fields. Deer can run through vegetable fields and can carry the fecal material as well."<ref> "CDC musters attack on E. coli spinach illness", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2006-09-17.</ref>
Two companies in California have voluntarily recalled spinach and spinach-containing products: Natural Selection Foods LLC,<ref name="nsfoods">Natural Selection Foods</ref> based in San Juan Bautista, and River Ranch Fresh Foods.<ref name="nsfoods"/><ref name="linked">"FDA: E. coli linked to Natural Selection Foods", CNN, 2006-09-15.</ref><ref name="fda17">FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach. FDA (2006-09-17).</ref> 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.<ref>RLB Food Distributors Issues a Multiple East Coast States Recall of Fresh Spinach Salad Products for Possible E. coli Contamination. FDA (2006-09-20).</ref>
Natural Selection Foods announced on September 18, 2006 that its organic produce has now been cleared of contamination by an independent agency, but did not lift the recalls on any of its organic brands.<ref>"Company says organic spinach OK, but E. coli recall still in effect", USA Today, 2006-09-18.</ref> On September 22, Earthbound Farm announced that the FDA and the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) have confirmed that its organic spinach has not been contaminated with E. coli.<ref>Consumer Update on e. coli Investigation. Earthbound Farm Organic (2006-09-22).</ref>
[edit] Impact
As of October 06, 2006, 26 states are affected, and at least 199 cases<ref name="cdc"/> of the disease are currently reported. Three deaths have been confirmed to be from the outbreak source; an elderly woman in Wisconsin, a 2 year old in Idaho, and an elderly woman in Nebraska. A fourth death of an elderly woman in Maryland is still under investigation to determine if it is linked to this outbreak.<ref>[1]</ref> Spinach has also been distributed to Canada and Mexico; one case has been reported in Canada.<ref>[2]</ref><ref>E. COLI O157:H7 OUTBREAK IN UNITED STATES ASSOCIATED WITH BAGGED FRESH SPINACH. Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (2006-09-15). Retrieved on 2006-09-24.</ref> There have been over 400 produce-related outbreaks in North America since 1990.<ref>A selection of North American produce related outbreaks from 1990-2005. Food safety network (2006-05-03).</ref>
The areas reported to be affected are:<ref>E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Case Counts by State. CDC. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.</ref>
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[edit] Economic impact
In California, where three-quarters of all domestically grown spinach is harvested, farmers could endure up to $74 million in losses due to the E. coli outbreak. In 2005, the spinach crop in California was valued at $258.3 million, and each acre lost amounts to a roughly $3,500 loss for the farmer.[3]
[edit] Effects of E. coli O157:H7
- Further information: Escherichia coli O157:H7
E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestines of all animals, including humans. Almost all strains are harmless bacteria 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.<ref>Bad Bug Book-Escherichia coli O157:H7. FDA. Retrieved on 2006-09-22.</ref>
[edit] 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.<ref name="linked"/><ref name="fda14"/> The FDA advised "that consumers not eat bagged fresh spinach."<ref name="fda14"/> Three days later, their updated warning said not to eat "fresh spinach or fresh spinach-containing products."<ref name="fda17"/> On September 17, the United States expanded the warning to avoid all fresh spinach.<ref name="reuters"/> The Centers for Disease Control issued an official Health Alert, the highest category of alert message, on September 14<ref>CDC: Multiple States Investigating a Large Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections, September 14, 2006</ref> 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.<ref>"CDC Starts To Investigate E. coli Outbreak In Wisconsin", WISC-TV, 2006-09-16.</ref>
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.<ref>"Ohio tot's death may be linked to tainted spinach", Dayton Daily News, 2006-09-18.</ref>
As of September 18, the number of people sickened by the E. coli laced fresh spinach reached 111.<ref>"E. coli spinach scare increases to 21 states", CNN, 2006-09-19.</ref>
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.<ref>"Farm water is suspected in outbreak", Mercury News, 2006-09-19.</ref><ref>"Death linked to spinach?", Newsday, 2006-09-19.</ref> 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.<ref>Outbreaks of foodborne illness linked to fresh lettuce and spinach since 1993. Food Safety Network (2006-09-18).</ref>
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.<ref>Update on Multi-State Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections From Fresh Spinach,September 20,2006. CDC (2006-09-20).</ref> On september 25, Consumer advocates and lawmakers started to urge for tougher rules for fields and processing plants.<ref>[4]</ref>
On September 27, a Pittsford woman has filed a lawsuit concerning this matter, stating that the tainted spinach has made her ill. See Pittsford Woman Files Tainted Spinach Lawsuit. This source also states that numerous other lawsuits are being filed nationwide.
On September 27, Sadex Corporation, a Texas-based irradiation company, demonstrated that their irradiation process could have provided a cost effective alternative to the illness and death, as their President Harlan Clemmons and CEO David A. Corbin consumed treated spinach with the knowledge that their process had killed any E.coli that had been present. See Irradiation Could Minimize Future E. coli Outbreaks in Produce.
On September 29, the FDA downgraded the warning, now only warning against specific brands packaged on specific dates, instead of just fresh spinach in general.<ref name=ReutersFDAreducewarning>(Reuters)</ref>
On October 5, 06 the FBI has launched a criminal<u> investigation into this matter. See Criminal Probe launched into the Spinach E. coli incident, and FBI investigates Spinach E. coli incident as a criminal matter, CBS News: Feds investigate outbreak, Feds investigate E. coli incident
On October 9, 2006, a popular brand of lettuce grown in California's Salinas Valley, the region at the center of the nationwide spinach scare has been recalled over concerns about E. coli contamination.[5]
October 26, 2006, some of the largest grocery chains, including Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs and others, sent a letter to the farmer's associations, giving them 6 weeks to come up with a plan to prevent problems like the E. coli breakout from happening again.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
- E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak from Fresh Spinach by CDC.
- Programme for monitoring emerging diseases (ProMED)
- More news about the case
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency advisory
- The Link Between E. Coli in Spinach and Industrial Cattle - Guest Column by the Union of Concerned Scientists in TreeHugger Magazine
- Importing E. coli — Commentary by the Food Safety Network
- www.fbi.gov:Search: FBI initiates a criminal probe into the 2006 Spinach E. coli outbreak
- Don't Eat the Spinach — Controlling Foodborne Infectious Disease — Perspective article by D.G. Maki in N Engl J Med 2006; 355:1952-5ms:Pencemaran sayur bayam di Amerika Utara 2006
