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Alternatives to Bagged Spinach
Here the spinach people were growing their spinach minding their own business and Wham! This E.coli contamination nightmare blows their business clear out of the water. It's an even bigger nightmare for all of the families affected too.
Based on current information, the FDA is advising people not to eat any fresh spinach or fresh spinach containing products that are consumed raw because of an outbreak of foodborne E.coli in multiple states across the country. Apparently this strain of E.coli cannot be washed off. Cooking thoroughly typically will kill E.coli, however the FDA advises that there is always a risk of cross contamination when handling the E.coli contaminated food while raw.
What does this mean for all of us bagged spinach lovers? For the meantime we have to abstain and await word from the FDA who is continuing their investigation. All raw spinach is suspect at this time. While it is true that an outbreak of E.coli in mid September 2006 was traced to bagged spinach originating from a company in California, this doesn't mean that all bagged salad is unsafe.
But go ahead and continue to enjoy the convenience of bagged Romaine lettuce, for example. If the bag says it is triple washed, then use it right out of the bag. Handling it more by washing it again at home is not advised by the FDA.
~~Elaine
Sources:
FDA News Sept. 15, 2006 "FDA Statement on Foodborne E.coli 0157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach"
Laura Alvey, FDA media spokesperson (phone interview 9-18-06)
Related Topics: Food Safety Tips, E.coli
Technorati Tags: ecoli, e.coli, baggedspinach, rawspinach, spinach, bagged, salads, fda
Based on current information, the FDA is advising people not to eat any fresh spinach or fresh spinach containing products that are consumed raw because of an outbreak of foodborne E.coli in multiple states across the country. Apparently this strain of E.coli cannot be washed off. Cooking thoroughly typically will kill E.coli, however the FDA advises that there is always a risk of cross contamination when handling the E.coli contaminated food while raw.
What does this mean for all of us bagged spinach lovers? For the meantime we have to abstain and await word from the FDA who is continuing their investigation. All raw spinach is suspect at this time. While it is true that an outbreak of E.coli in mid September 2006 was traced to bagged spinach originating from a company in California, this doesn't mean that all bagged salad is unsafe.
But go ahead and continue to enjoy the convenience of bagged Romaine lettuce, for example. If the bag says it is triple washed, then use it right out of the bag. Handling it more by washing it again at home is not advised by the FDA.
~~Elaine
Sources:
FDA News Sept. 15, 2006 "FDA Statement on Foodborne E.coli 0157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach"
Laura Alvey, FDA media spokesperson (phone interview 9-18-06)
Related Topics: Food Safety Tips, E.coli
Technorati Tags: ecoli, e.coli, baggedspinach, rawspinach, spinach, bagged, salads, fda
1 Comments:
Spinach is so easy to grow and it's the perfect time of year to plant it. Scratch a few seeds in somewhere, make sure they don't dry out while they are sprouting (it can take 7 to 10 days) and you will have your own wholesome fresh spinach WAY before 1st frost. In fact spinach can take a light frost just fine. So get GROWING.
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