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Source of spinach with E. coli narrowed

Samantha Cabaluna, spokeswoman for Natural Selection Foods, tells the media in San Juan Bautista, Calif., on Wednesday that a bag of tainted spinach contaminated with E. coli came from one of the commercial farms that supplies spinach to the company. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Michael S. Rosenwald and Annys Shin Washington Post
Samantha Cabaluna, spokeswoman for Natural Selection Foods, tells the media in San Juan Bautista, Calif., on Wednesday that a bag of tainted spinach contaminated with E. coli came from one of the commercial farms that supplies spinach to the company. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

WASHINGTON – Health officials in New Mexico positively identified a deadly strain of E. coli in a bag of spinach Wednesday, providing a crucial clue that investigators say can be used to trace the source of an outbreak that has sickened 146 people in 23 states including Washington and Idaho.

Until now the evidence implicating spinach has been circumstantial. By confirming the presence of the germ in a bag of spinach eaten by one victim, investigators can begin tracing it back to a farm in California, a step toward clearing the sale of fresh spinach from other parts of the country, said David Acheson, a top FDA food safety expert.

“Yesterday, we narrowed it to California,” he said. “Today, we narrowed it down to three counties. We’re hoping to narrow it down to a field and … to a spinach leaf.”

The E. coli outbreak, which was reported a week ago, has led to the leafy vegetable’s banishment from restaurants and family dinner tables across the country and is threatening the spinach industry with severe damage. Losses are estimated at up to $100 million if the crisis lasts just a month.

Nutritionists and food policy experts said that public fears about spinach could extend to other popular produce, such as bagged salads. Even though there have been 20 E. coli outbreaks from spinach or lettuce since 1995, this one has attracted the most attention because it has the most victims, with one death, another death suspected and the number of illnesses climbing by 15 Wednesday. Two more states, Arizona and Colorado, reported cases Wednesday.

The uncertainty has virtually shut down the fresh spinach industry.

“This is going to kill the spinach industry for who knows how long,” said Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University. “The idea that salad greens have become a source of E. coli is very shocking and it means we have a real problem in the food system. This is very serious.”

Federal officials Wednesday narrowed the source of the outbreak to three counties, Monterey, Santa Clara and San Benito, in and around the greater Salinas Valley. The germ was found in a bag of Dole baby spinach, marked best used by Aug. 30. Acheson said the spinach was processed by Natural Selection Foods, saying the code on the bag fit with information provided by the company, which has previously been linked to the outbreak.

Officials reiterated that no one should consume fresh spinach until they lift their warning.