E. coli has been linked to a California spinach processor that has killed one person and sickened nearly 100 others. Twenty-nine people have been hospitalized, 14 of them with kidney failure. FDA officials said they had received reports of illness in 19 states.
Spinach has been removed from supermarket shelves, and consumers have tossed out the leafy green. So far only one company has been implicated, Natural Selection Foods, which distributes spinach under the Earthbound Farm and other brands. However, the government is investigating other companies too, and it is believed other brands may also be implicated.
E. coli or Escherichia coli is a common cause of foodborne illness with approximately 73,000 cases of infection and 61 deaths occurring in the United States each year. E. coli can lead to bloody diarrhea and kidney failure. Most E. coli cases are linked to eating undercooked ground beef, drinking raw milk and after swimming in or drinking sewage-contaminated water.
Bacteria in diarrheal stools of infected persons can be passed from one person to another if hygiene or handwashing habits are inadequate. This can happen with toddlers who are not toilet trained, putting family members of these children are at high risk. Over the last few years several E.Coli contamination has been linekd with several food and drink manufacturers, including Wendy’s, Starbucks, Odwalla, BJ’s and McDonalds.
| Quick Facts: Reference Guide | |
|---|---|
| What Is E. Coli | Foodborne illness |
| Causes | Eating undercooked beef Drinking raw milk Swimming in contaminated water Drinking contaminated water Inadequate hygiene Poor handwashing habits |
| Symptoms | Bloody diarrhea Kidney failure Death |
| Related Topics | Campylobacter Cryptosporidium Cyclospora Food Poisoning E.Coli O157 H7 Listeria Norovirus Salmonella Shigella Kidney Failure Diseases Other Topics |
Need Legal Help For Victims of E. Coli Bacteria?
If you or a loved one has been infected with E. coli you may have valuable legal rights, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified E. coli contamination attorney. Alternatively, call our toll free number: 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
