Wegmans spinach has been linked to an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 28 people in five states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak which began in New York, now includes cases in Connecticut, Virginia, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Ten people have been hospitalized, two of them with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.
On November 2, 2012, Wegmans issued a recall for 5 oz and 11 oz packages of its Organic Spinach and Spring Mix blend for possible contamination with E.coli. A collaborative investigation by state, local, and federal officials indicates that the Wegmans salad mix, produced by State Garden of Chelsea, Massachusetts, is one likely source of this outbreak. Samples taken from four leftover packages of the salad blend collected homes of some of those who became ill tested positive for a strain of E.coli O157:H7 that is a genetic match to the outbreak strain. All of the case patients outside of New York mentioned eating other brands of pre-packaged leafy greens before becoming ill. Those brands are also being investigated.
By state, the number of those ill is as follows: Connecticut (2), Massachusetts (2), New York (22), Pennsylvania (1), and Virginia (1). Among patients for whom information is available, illness onset dates ranged from October 18, 2012 to November 3, 2012. Case patients range in age from 4 to 66 years old. The median age is 24 years years old. Sixty-eight percent of those sickened are female.
This particular strain of E. coli is somewhat rare, according to the CDC. E. coli 0157:H7 can cause serious sometimes fatal injury. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include abdominal cramping and diarrhea which can sometimes be bloody. Anyone who has these symptoms should contact a health care provider.
