As an E. coli outbreak investigation of tainted spinach sold at New York Wegmans stores unfolds, State Garden, the company that supplied the spinach to Wegmans, has issued a statement. The Chelsea, Mass.-based company provided information about the recall in a consumer advisory issued November 2.
The State Garden advisory provides slightly different information than the recall that Wegmans posted on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. According to State Garden, the potentially affected product is only the 11 oz size of Organic Spinach with Spring Mix blend produced for Wegmans on October 12 and 13 and sold in plastic clamshell containers. These containers have “use by’ dates of October 23 and 24 and have traceback codes of 60832 and 14765. “Organic Spinach with Spring Mix blend (Club Pack) under this advisory were distributed to Wegmans retail stores in New York State,” the advisory states. Yet Wegmans removed the product from its store locations in all six states where it operates: New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
At least 16 people in New York have confirmed cases of E.coli 0157:H7 infections. The 16 cases are from four counties: Monroe, Niagara, Steuben, and Wayne. A total of four people had been hospitalized. As of Friday, three had been released and one remained hospitalized, according to the New York state department of health.
E. coli symptoms include abdominal cramps and diarrhea which is often forceful and bloody. Anyone who ate the recalled spinach and develops these symptoms should see a health care provider. In some cases, E. coli infections can be life threatening.
