Spinach removed from retail shelves
Spinach removed from retail shelves
Retailers and foodservice operators are scrambling to remove bagged spinach products the day after the U.S. Food & Drug Administrative advised all consumers not to eat the products as FDA officials try to narrow the cause of a multi-state outbreak.
Fifty people in eight states have been linked through DNA fingerprinting to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that health officials say may be attributed to bagged spinach products. The first illness was confirmed Aug. 25, said FDA, and the agency is working to identify the product brand. One person has died.
"This is a devastating blow for spinach," said Produce Marketing Association's Kathy Means, who added that all products containing spinach would be affected by the advisory.
Sources say packaged salad companies were already feeling the pinch as the media continued to circulate stories about food safety concerns.
At least one processor has begun reformulating its product without spinach to fill the gap in the wake of the outbreak, said Ms. Means. One company official told her that the outbreak investigation has already cost the company millions in lost sales.
Retailers should be removing the products from the shelves, said a FDA spokesman. At this time, the illnesses have been associated with products purchased at retail.
FDA is reportedly looking at multiple brands, and the industry is coordinating with health officials and working with California shippers to track down the product responsible for the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Gwyn Wellborn, an Oregon woman, filed a lawsuit Sept. 14 against Dole after becoming ill from eating the company's baby spinach during the week of Aug. 21. The lawsuit alleges that the woman consumed the spinach in salads over several days during the week of Aug. 21-25 and then was hospitalized with an E. coli O157:H7 infection.
"The FDA and the fresh produce industry have been working to resolve the issue of E. coli contamination for a number of years," said William Marler, attorney with Marler Clark, the law firm representing Ms. Wellborn. "It is unfortunate that outbreaks continue to happen and that consumers continue to be injured as a result."
Fifty people in eight states have been linked through DNA fingerprinting to an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that health officials say may be attributed to bagged spinach products. The first illness was confirmed Aug. 25, said FDA, and the agency is working to identify the product brand. One person has died.
"This is a devastating blow for spinach," said Produce Marketing Association's Kathy Means, who added that all products containing spinach would be affected by the advisory.
Sources say packaged salad companies were already feeling the pinch as the media continued to circulate stories about food safety concerns.
At least one processor has begun reformulating its product without spinach to fill the gap in the wake of the outbreak, said Ms. Means. One company official told her that the outbreak investigation has already cost the company millions in lost sales.
Retailers should be removing the products from the shelves, said a FDA spokesman. At this time, the illnesses have been associated with products purchased at retail.
FDA is reportedly looking at multiple brands, and the industry is coordinating with health officials and working with California shippers to track down the product responsible for the outbreak.
Meanwhile, Gwyn Wellborn, an Oregon woman, filed a lawsuit Sept. 14 against Dole after becoming ill from eating the company's baby spinach during the week of Aug. 21. The lawsuit alleges that the woman consumed the spinach in salads over several days during the week of Aug. 21-25 and then was hospitalized with an E. coli O157:H7 infection.
"The FDA and the fresh produce industry have been working to resolve the issue of E. coli contamination for a number of years," said William Marler, attorney with Marler Clark, the law firm representing Ms. Wellborn. "It is unfortunate that outbreaks continue to happen and that consumers continue to be injured as a result."
