Updates on E. coli Food Poisoning Outbreaks

March 2007

E. coli traced to California spinach field In September of 2006, reports surfaced of E. coli in bagged spinach, eventually sickening 205 people and killing three. The Food and Drug Administration has finalized their hunt for the source, identifying river water, cow feces, and wild pigs from a single field as the culprits.

The contaminated spinach came from Mission Organics, a grower leasing fields on the Paicines Ranch in California. It was processed by Natural Selection Foods and sold as Dole bagged baby spinach. Despite the finalized report, the FDA has not determined how the E. coli was able to spread from the sources into the bagged spinach.

In December of 2006, Taco Bell food sickened at least 70 people with E. coli. Boskovich Farms is suing Taco Bell for citing their green onions as the source, even after scallions had been cleared of any role in the contamination. Taco Bell has dropped green onions from all menu items even though lettuce was eventually blamed as the likely carrier of E. coli.

Victim of Food Poisoning from Spinach? Contact Us Now For a Free Evaluation of Your Legal Case.

Call us toll-free at 1-866-943-3427 or get online legal help, and we'll give you a free evaluation of your claim.

Please note: All of our lawyers are licensed to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. We also have lawyers licensed to practice in Ohio and West Virginia, and we associate with experienced attorneys in other states. In addition, all foodborne illness litigation may involve co-counsel.

Sources:
"FDA Finalizes Report on 2006 Spinach Outbreak." FDA Press Release. March 23, 2007.
"Probe can't pinpoint how E. coli got into spinach." CNN. March 23, 2007.
"California Farm Sues Taco Bell for Libel." The Associated Press. March 23, 2007.