FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety

摘要

In September 2006, the United States suffered a major outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, causing hundreds of reported injuries and several deaths and resulting in a spinach recall. The outbreak ultimately was traced to packaged fresh spinach. This was not the first outbreak tied to fresh produce. There have been at least 20 outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in fresh spinach or lettuce in the past 12 years. This report examines the Food and Drug Administrations efforts to protect the safety of packaged fresh spinach.