Spinach E. coli Outbreak: Indiana Update
Cases of E. coli in Indiana have been linked to fresh spinach. The Indiana Department of Health has issued an update on the E. coli outbreak.
Below is the Indiana Department of Health update on the E. coli outbreak linked to fresh spinach. Pritzker | Ruohonen is reprinting it here as a public service. To contact Pritzker | Ruohonen regarding a free consultation, call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail fhp@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out our online consultation form.
INDIANA UPDATE ON E. COLI ALERT
INDIANAPOLIS--Based on new information released today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the current E. coli outbreak, state health officials advise Hoosiers to not eat fresh spinach or fresh spinach containing-products that are consumed raw.
State health officials report Indiana currently has eight positive cases of E. coli O157:H7. As of today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has received reports of 102 persons infected with the outbreak strain from 19 states, including Indiana .
At this time, Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, is recalling all of its products that contain spinach in all the brands they pack with "Best if Used by Dates" of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006. The FDA continues to investigate whether other companies and brands are involved.
Officials strongly urge Hoosiers to avoid eating fresh spinach until further notice. People are urged to continue to wash all fresh produce by rinsing it thoroughly under cold running water, not soaking it in a bowl or sink. [Pritzker | Ruohonen note: E. coli in spinach cannot be washed off. Do not wash spinach off and then eat it. Do not eat fresh spinach under any circumstances until further notice.]
"The E. coli O157:H7 bacterium causes diarrhea that is often bloody and accompanied by abdominal cramps, but fever is absent or mild," said State Health Commissioner Judi th A. Monroe, M.D. "The illness typically resolves within a week. However, some people, especially young children and the elderly, develop hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a disorder of the kidneys and blood system that can be life threatening."
If people develop symptoms of E. coli after eating fresh spinach, they should be sure to consult a physician or health care provider.
For additional information on the E. coli outbreak, including a listing of Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands, visit the FDA Web site at: www.fda.gov.
