More than 170 people in twenty different states have been infected with E. coli from eating contaminated fresh spinach. Do you know what is safe to eat and what should end up in the trash? Here is all the important information you need about contaminated spinach and E. coli.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is advising people to avoid fresh spinach that comes from Monterey County, San Benito County, and Santa Clara County in California. Spinach grown outside those three counties is safe for consumption. Frozen and canned spinach are safe for consumption. If you cannot verify the origin of fresh spinach, you should not eat it. The CDC is advising that you throw away any fresh spinach you may have in your refrigerator or freezer. You may also want to clean your refrigerator and sanitize kitchen surfaces with a commercial cleaning agent or hot, soapy water.
If you have eaten contaminated spinach, you will see symptoms of E. coli infection within an average of three to four days. Some people see symptoms within twenty-four hours; others do not develop symptoms for ten days! You may experience severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps that resolve in five to ten days.
Most people recover from E. coli illness without treatment. However, some people can develop a more serious kidney complication that requires hospitalization.
Bacteria in the stool of an infected person can pass E. coli to another person. Washing your hands before eating and after using the bathroom can help check the spread of disease. Infected individuals should be extra careful around family members, especially infants and toddlers.
Other leafy greens and vegetables ARE safe to eat. Practice safe food handling and preparation:
- Keep raw meats separate from produce
- Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces before and after handling food
- Keep raw meats separate from other foods in your shopping cart
More information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control:
- http://www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach/
- http://www.cdc.gov/foodborne/ecolispinach/reportingtimeline.htm