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

[Gary Breitenbeck]

Jim: this outbreak of EC O157:H7 has profound implications for the
beneficial use of compost and other organics in food production.  Frankly,
to achieve a sufficient titer of these rare organisms to infect people over
half the US strongly suggests an act of profound stupidity or malicious
intent.  I was under the impression that 'ready-to-eat' packaged greens were
dipped in disinfectant and washed prior to packaging.  Does anyone have the
details of how the infected spinach was processed?  Was the spinach
fertilized with organics?  How do we know the spinach did not infect the
nearby cattle rather than the other way around?  --Gary Breitenbeck

-----Original Message-----
From: compost-bounces at composter.com [mailto:compost-bounces at composter.com]
On Behalf Of Jim McNelly
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 2:08 PM
To: compost at composter.com
Subject: [USCC] Fwd: FDA Links Spinach Outbreak to Cattle Feces

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>
>*   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/b
bs/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
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