by Playfuls Staff |
17th September 2006
Spinach from the largest organic producer in the US led to an outbreak of Escherichia coli (E.coli) infections in 20 US states, leaving one woman dead and over 100 others ill, the [more] US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed Sunday.
A 77-year-old woman had died from the infection and over 100 others were ill, with new cases being reported all the time, the FDA said.
According to the FDA, the outbreak could be traced to products from Natural Selection Foods LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California.
The authorities had warned the public about consuming fresh spinach and were testing the products of other producers.
The E.coli bacterium causes severe diarrhoea and extreme thirst. In extreme cases it can lead to a type of kidney failure, particularly among young children or the elderly.
© 2006 DPA
