Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
19
Public Response to the 2006 Recall of
Contaminated Spinach
William K. Hallman, Cara L. Cuite, Jocilyn E. Dellava,
Mary L. Nucci, and Sarah C. Condry
Introduction
On September 14, 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an
advisory to consumers not to eat bagged fresh spinach because of suspected contami-
nation by
E. coli
O157:H7 (U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2006a). This advisory
was based on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) regarding a multistate foodborne illness outbreak that, by that time, had already
caused 50 cases of illness, resulting in 8 cases of kidney failure and 1 death, and which
was thought to be associated with the consumption of fresh spinach.
In its advisory, the FDA described the symptoms of illnesses resulting from inges-
tion of
E. coli
O157:H7 as causing diarrhea, often with bloody stools (they mentioned
no other symptoms). They urged those who believed that they were experiencing
symptoms of illness after consuming bagged spinach to contact their health care pro-
viders. The following day, the FDA's advisory was expanded to include all fresh
spinach and products containing fresh spinach. In part, this extension was in response
to reports that retailers sometimes opened bagged spinach and sold it as loose spinach
(Brackett 2006), making it available on salad bars and in produce sections of markets.
At the same time, a series of voluntary recalls of fresh spinach began nationwide,
beginning with products from Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista,
California, with “Best if Used by Dates” of August 17, 2006, through October 1, 2006
(U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2006b). As one of the largest packers of fresh
spinach in the nation, Natural Selection Foods produced bagged spinach under 30
brand names, all of which were part of the recall. Within a week, 5 additional fi rms
issued their own voluntary recalls after discovering that they had included spinach
processed by Natural Selections Foods as components of their mixed salad greens or
as ingredients in pizzas and some other prepared foods.
In response to the FDA's initial advisory and the subsequent recalls, stores and
restaurants quickly removed fresh spinach from their shelves and menus. Harvesting,
marketing, and bulk sales of fresh spinach also came to a halt (Calvin 2007). News
coverage of the advisory and the subsequent recalls was extensive, including both the
evening and morning shows of the three broadcast television networks: ABC, CBS,
and NBC (Nucci 2008) and national and regional newspapers (Pleasant 2008).
By the time the recalls were issued, contaminated product had already been con-
sumed. Most of those who would eventually become sick from the contaminated
spinach had already become ill between August 19 and September 5, 2006 (U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2006c).
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