Spinach-Linked E. coli Traced to Cattle Farm
The FDA and State of California announced today that cattle feces from one suspected ranch tested positive for the genetically-matched strain of E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to spinach, particularly bags of Dole baby spinach. This was part of the federal and state trace-back investigation, which is done to determine the exact source of a foodborne outbreak, an important step in preventing another spinach-related E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.
The trace-back investigation has narrowed to four fields on four ranches in the Salinas Valley in California. The spinach-outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 from cattle feces was identified on one of these four ranches. Testing of other environmental samples from all four ranches that supplied the implicated lot of contaminated spinach is still in progress.
The four fields under investigation, located in Monterey and San Benito counties, are not currently being used to grow any fresh produce. While the focus of this outbreak has narrowed to these four fields, the history of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to leafy greens indicates an ongoing problem. As FDA stated in its letter to the lettuce industry in November of 2005, FDA continues to be concerned due to the history of outbreaks and the on-going risk for product contamination of leafy greens. This concern has not translated into a move toward more effective regulations, however.
Pritzker | Ruohonen & Associates, P.A. has a national reputation for success in the area of foodborne illness litigation. The firm has recovered millions for victims of food poisoning, including a recent settlement for $6,425,000. To contact an E. coli lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen for a free consultation, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mail fhp@pritzkerlaw.com or fill out the online, attorney-consultation form.