An E.coli outbreak linked to spinach and spring mix sold at Wegmans and other grocery stores was the seventh largest multi-state food poisoning outbreak of 2012, based on the total number of people sickened. It was the third multi-state E.coli outbreak linked to salad greens in the last three years, according to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The outbreak, which was announced in November by the CDC sickened 33 people in five states before ending in December. The salad greens identified as the source of the outbreak were produced by State Garden of Chelsea, Mass. and sold in plastic, clamshell containers at Wegmans grocery stores.
Case patients who were interviewed by public health authorities reported onset of illness from October 18, 2012 to November 12, 2012. The age range of those sickened was 4 to 66 years old with a median age of 24. Roughly two thirds of the victims were female. During interviews with health officials, 97 percent of patients reported eating pre-packaged leafy greens before becoming ill and 48 percent mentioned Wegmans brand Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend.
The cases in each of the five states were as follows: New York (26), Massachusetts (3), Connecticut (2), Pennsylvania (1) and Virginia (1). Almost half of the victims sickened by outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) were hospitalized, two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. No fatalities were reported.
Wegmans issued a recall of 5-ounce and 11-ounce clam shell packages of Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend, on November 2, 2012. State Garden, which produced the salad mix, issued a consumer advisory on October 12 and 13, 2012.
Check Food Poisoning Bulletin each day as we count down the largest multi-state foodborne illness outbreaks of 2012. Coming up tomorrow: #6.
