E. coli outbreak linked to baby spinach sickens people in 7 states, FDA says

An E. coli outbreak linked to baby spinach has sickened people in at least seven states, the Food and Drug Administration announced.

So far, 10 people have fallen ill after consuming the food-borne bacteria in Missouri, Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, the FDA said Tuesday, Nov. 16. Two were sickened in Minnesota and three in Indiana.

Of the victims, five recalled eating spinach within a week of becoming sick, according to the FDA news release.

One specifically named the brand Josie’s Organics baby spinach. Minnesota officials tested that container of spinach, which had a “best if used by” date of Oct. 23, and found E. coli O157:H7, said the FDA in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Consumers, restaurants and others are advised to avoid eating or serving Josie’s Organics brand spinach with a best by date of Oct. 23, officials warned.

“Although this product is past expiration and should no longer be available for purchase, consumers should check their homes for product and discard it. If consumers froze fresh Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach, they should discard it,” the FDA said.

Officials are continuing to test and investigate the source of the E. coli outbreak.

The FDA has traced tainted samples back to “a small number of farms in two different geographic regions,” officials said. Other supply chains are also being investigated.

Symptoms of E. coli generally appear within three to four days of consuming the bacteria, according to the CDC, and include “severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting.”

While most people will recover without treatment in about a week, “some people may develop a type of kidney failure ... and would need to be hospitalized.”

This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 4:32 PM.