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September 18, 2006

FDA expands spinach recall

Given the national outbreak of E. coli traced to tainted spinach, the Food and Drug Administration has expanded its recall on spinach today.

There have been no reported cases of E. coli in Rhode Island as of this morning, state Health Department spokeswoman Maria E. Wah-Fitta said. Outbreaks have been reported in 19 states – including two cases in Connecticut and seven in New York, Wah-Fitta said.

The number of people sickened by E. coli across the country is 109, as of this morning, she said.

Following the FDA's latest recall announcement, the state Health Department is urging Rhode Islanders not to buy or eat any loose spinach, salad mixes that contain spinach, and fresh, bagged spinach, Wah-Fitta said.

Local grocery stores and restaurants have pulled such spinach products.

“The restaurants and stores have been extremely cooperative,” Wah-Fitta said.

-- projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson

Some are offering refunds to customers who had purchased the now-recalled products.

At the Whole Foods supermarket on North Main Street in Providence, a sign in the lettuce area alerts customers in red letters to an “Important note about spinach.”

In black text, the message reads: “We are currently researching the spinach issue in the United States and have pulled all spinach until such a time when we feel it is no longer a public health concern.”

At a popular downtown eatery, before the lunch hour, spinach calzones were pulled from the shelf and thrown in the trash. Mama Teresa’s, like many restaurants and bakeries, makes its spinach calzones with frozen spinach.

Although frozen spinach has not yet been mentioned in recall notices, according to Wah-Fitta, some are taking no chances.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:14 AM | Permalink

September 18, 2006

FDA expands spinach recall

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