Don't Eat Bagged Spinach

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called on consumers not to eat any fresh, prepackaged spinach after officials said they identified an outbreak of E. coli that has killed a person in Wisconsin and sickened at least 48 people in eight states: Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah and Wisconsin which was hit hardest with at least 20 cases. The investigation spearheaded by FDA appears to implicate prepackaged, prewashed spinach, but officials have not identified a specific brand yet.

E. coli can cause diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. To date, 50 cases of illness have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 8 cases of HUS and one death.