Fresh Produce Discussion Blog

Created by The Packer's National Editor Tom Karst

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Spinach traceback

This AP story reveals more details of the federal state traceback on the fresh spinach that sparked a nationwide E. coli outbreak. But the most important detail is still lacking.
From the story:

Health officials were cited as telling state lawmakers said at a legislative hearing Tuesday that fresh spinach that sparked a nationwide E. coli outbreak last fall was grown on a roughly 50-acre plot in San Benito County, which was in the second year of a three-year transition to organic production. Dr. Kevin Reilly of the California Department of Health Services declined to release further details until they complete a full report on the outbreak, but said the report with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, would be released, "hopefully within the next few weeks."

TK: CDFA officials cited in the story say still don't know how the E. coli got on the spinach. But at least there is a body of knowledge about the area and the farming practices of this specific farm; we will see what kind of illumination the FDA's report brings. Whether water, soil amendments, wild pigs - let's hope the authorities can make the call on how it happened.

Labels: , ,

1 Comments:

At March 2, 2007 at 6:38:00 AM CST , Anonymous Anonymous said...

February 27, Associated Press — Officials trace tainted spinach to San Benito County
farm. Fresh spinach that sparked a nationwide E. coli outbreak last fall was grown on a roughly
50−acre plot in San Benito County, CA, health officials told state lawmakers. Officials said at a
legislative hearing Tuesday, February 27, that investigators identified the grower who was
farming that plot, which was in the second year of a three−year transition to organic production.
However, they declined to release further details until they complete a full report on the
outbreak. Investigators previously have said they linked a strain of E. coli that killed three
people and sickened more than 200 others in September to wild pigs that may have spread the
bacteria in the field.
Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070227−2222−wst−t aintedspinach.html

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home