E. Coli Outbreak (Spinach)

October 6 ¨C December 31, 2006

At a glance

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to support the response to an outbreak of E. Coli associated with fresh spinach.

Spinach

About the Response

In 2006, a ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø investigation with the State of California and the Food and Drug Administration linked a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7 to fresh bagged spinach from California.

Effects were widespread: people became ill, the spinach was recalled, and farmers were unable to sell some of their crops.

This outbreak endangered consumers, cost farmers money, and concerned farm conglomerates, oversight authorities and regulators.