Anyone have that bagged spinach in their fridge? (Toss it quick!) Know anyone effected?

Question

The news stations said there is bagged spinach contaminated with the deadly type of e-coli that can cause kidney & other types of failure in 20 states so far, that 80-90 people have become very ill and at least one has died.

You can't wash the e-coli off because it is actually inside the leaf itself.

And... they think it's in a lot of different brands that must have all come from one farm, but they don't know which one.

Very dangerous -- so toss it quick!

Don't forget to tell your friends and family about it.

E-coli bacteria is somehow from fecal matter and they think it got into the spinach leaves from the irrigation systems. Say, a deer or other wild animal "deposits" fecal matter near the water source for watering the spinach fields, the bacteria comes up in the roots or is sprayed on the leaves and goes into the leaves. Can't wash it off but it's hidden in there. Off it goes to the grocery store and homes. Ug.

Answer 1

You do not have to toss out your bagged spinach. Just wash it thoroughly and cook it.

Spinach is a healthy food. You may eat it. The problem with bagged "pre-washed" packaged spinach and salads is that people tend to eat it right out of the bag without washing it again. That is not healthy. Raw food should be thoroughly washed, not just rinsed. Cooking does kill most pathogens.

For some people, especially young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, foodborne illness can be very dangerous.

Foodborne illnesses are more common that most people think. You should always soak raw fruits and vegetables in chlorinated tap water for a few minutes and rub it to get it clean and rinse under running tap water before you prepare and eat them . Use a brush to scrub produce with firm or rough surfaces, such as oranges, cantaloupes, potatoes and carrots. Any bacteria left-over will be killed by cooking.

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 products were distributed to about 20 states and Mexico.

Natural Selection Foods, LLC 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, Coastline, D’Arrigo Brothers, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Pro*Act, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer’s Market, Tanimura & Antle, President’s Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms. These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and food service products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

Sometimes, the contamination comes from cow manure used as fertilizer. Cows, pigs, sheep and horses may be infected with E. coli O157:H7 and not become ill. In the past, contaminated seeds, irrigation water, and flooding have contributed to E. coli outbreaks traced to alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach, parsley, and other fresh produce.

E. coli O157:H7 has formerly been found on all types of produce including strawberries, lettuce and bean sprouts. It has also been found in meat. You should thoroughly wash all vegetables and fruits that you eat raw. The tap water is chlorinated which generally is sufficient to kill most bacteria but O157:H7 is also resistant to chlorine so you must soak the vegetables for around 10 minutes and use friction to rub the vegetables. Unpasturized fruit juices were the source of a large E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 1996.

Meat must be thoroughly cooked. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria is believed to mostly live in the intestines of cattle, but has also been found in the intestines of chickens, deer, sheep, and pigs. E. coli O157:H7 does not make the animals that carry it ill; the animals are merely the reservoir for the bacteria.

It takes about 2 to 8 days for a person to show signs of infection which include:
o- bloody diarrhea
o- nausea and vomiting
o- severe abdominal cramps
o- fever

Healthy adults infected with E. coli O157:H7 may recover within 5 to 10 days without treatment. The higher risk is for those with a compromised immune system, children and older adults. A serious complication is called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It leads to destruction of the red blood cells and kidney failure. About 2%-7% of infections lead to this complication. Even with the patient receiving intensive care, the death rate from hemolytic uremic syndrome can be about 3%-5%.

The very infectious E. coli -- type O157:H7 may also be antibiotic resistant. During the current epidemic of E.coli O157:H7 found in spinach an 85-year-old woman died in Wisconsin and 50 people have been hospitalized.

The CDC estimates that about 73,000 cases of E.coli related illness occur each year. And 76 million cases of other foodborne illness. As a direct result of pathogenic E. coli infections and its complications, every year 2,100 Americans are hospitalized, and 61 people die. A recent study estimated the annual cost of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses to be $405 million (in 2003 dollars). Those costs that contributed to this estimate included $370 million for premature deaths, $30 million for medical care, and $5 million for lost productivity.

The virulence of E. coli O157:H7 is a result of its ability to produce Shiga-like toxins, or verotoxins. Shiga-like toxins inhibit protein synthesis in eukaryotic cells and play a role in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome by causing damage to endothelial cells in the kidneys, pancreas, brain, and other organs, thus inhibiting those organs’ ability to function.

The primary mode of transmission of E. coli at agricultural fairs, petting zoos, and farm visits was previously thought to be fecal-oral – that is, by ingestion of bacteria-laden feces via contaminated food or water, or transfer by hand to mouth following contact with contaminated surfaces or animals. Conclusions reached by investigators in several recent fair-associated outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 suggest that ingestion or perhaps even inhalation of contaminated dust particles may be an additional cause of E. coli infection among fairgoers and visitors to petting zoos.

Answer 2

I ate some. The gas I got from it was a little crackier and cacklier sounding than normal.

Answer 3

Is that why I've lost 20 pounds in the last two days?

Answer 4

How the hell does one get E. Coli from a vegetable??

...er, never mind. I don't want to know...

Answer 5

my brother and i were just talking about that today. he buys bagged spinach all the time. i hate spinach. he's been feeling weird lately. i advised him to get it checked out ASAP!!!

Answer 6

What happened, I have bagged spinach in my freezer, what about it?

Answer 7

no i dont have an spinage in my fridge and i dont intend on getting the inffection.

Answer 8

ya me! i feel like my stomach is being eaten inside out

Answer 9

nope

it wasnt in my state

Answer 10

yep, I do...threw it out...don't need any e coli...can get sick on my own!