[USCC] Fwd: FDA Links Spinach Outbreak to Cattle Feces

[Jim McNelly]

>
>*   FDA Links Spinach Outbreak to Cattle Feces - On October 12, FDA 
>issued a news release, titled "FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli 
>O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach; This statement is current as of October 
>12, 2006," which states in part that " ... FDA and the State of 
>California announced today that test results from the field 
>investigation of the outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 in spinach are 
>positive for E.coli O157:H7. Samples of cattle feces on one of the 
>implicated ranches tested positive based on matching genetic 
>fingerprints for the same strain of E. coli that sickened 199 
>people. The trace back investigation has narrowed to four implicated 
>fields on four ranches. The outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 from 
>cattle feces was identified on one of these four ranches. At this 
>time, testing of other environmental samples from all four ranches 
>that supplied the implicated lot of contaminated spinach are in 
>progress. The positive test result is a significant finding, but is 
>just one aspect of this investigation. More information may come 
>forward as the investigation continues. These four fields, 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 investigation is on-going. FDA, the State of California, the 
>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United 
>States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue to work closely to 
>determine the cause and scope of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked 
>to fresh spinach ..." - The complete text of the news release is 
>posted at 
><http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01489.html>http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01489.html 
>- Additional information is posted at 
><http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodltr2.html>http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodltr2.html 
>and 
><http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/spinach.html>http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/spinach.html 
>
>
>http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01489.html
>
>FDA News
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>P06-167
>
>October 12, 2006
>
>Media Inquiries:   Michael Herndon, 301-827-6242
>Consumer Inquiries:   888-SAFEFOOD
>
>FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach
>
>This statement is current as of October 12, 2006
>
>Positive Test Results
>
>FDA and the State of California announced today that test results 
>from the field investigation of the outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 in 
>spinach are positive for E.coli O157:H7. Samples of cattle feces on 
>one of the implicated ranches tested positive based on matching 
>genetic fingerprints for the same strain of E. coli that sickened 199 people.
>
>The trace back investigation has narrowed to four implicated fields 
>on four ranches. The outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 from cattle 
>feces was identified on one of these four ranches. At this time, 
>testing of other environmental samples from all four ranches that 
>supplied the implicated lot of contaminated spinach are in progress. 
>The positive test result is a significant finding, but is just one 
>aspect of this investigation. More information may come forward as 
>the investigation continues. These four fields, 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. 
>http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/prodltr2.html
>
>For more information on the illnesses, states affected, advice, 
>recalls, symptoms of E.coli, lettuce safety initiative, and other 
>background information, visit 
>http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/spinach.html.
>
>This investigation is on-going. FDA, the State of California, the 
>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United 
>States Department of Agriculture (USDA) continue to work closely to 
>determine the cause and scope of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked 
>to fresh spinach.
>
>####
>
>
>
>The above information was sent to you by:
>
>Jack Cooper
>
>Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC (FIEN, LLC) - see 
>http://www.fien.com - FIEN, LLC is a regulatory and policy e-mail 
>update service for the agriculture and food industry which is 
>operated as a partnership by:
>
>Jack L. Cooper
>Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC
>33 Falling Creek Court, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904
>Phone: 301 384 8287 --- E- Mail: JLC at fien.com
>and
>Cindy Roberts
>Food Industry Environmental Network, LLC
>1464 Harvard St. NW, Suite 14
>Washington, DC 20009-4610
>Phone: 202 669 6951 --- E-Mail: CAR at fien.com