CNN/AP: Some spinach (grown outside Salinas Valley) OK to eat, feds say

[DeepModem Mom]

Some spinach OK to eat, feds say
September 22, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Spinach grown outside California's Salinas Valley got the all-clear from federal health officials Friday, but it could be days before the leafy green returns to store shelves.

An ongoing outbreak of E. coli linked to spinach has sickened 166 people in half the 50 states as of midday Friday. That's up from 157 victims in 23 states a day earlier, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For more than a week, the Food and Drug Administration has recommend people not eat fresh, raw spinach. State and federal investigators since have traced the contaminated spinach back to three California counties, and already farm inspections there are turning up possible problems.(Watch why some worry about lack of safeguards -- 2:58)

On Friday, officials said spinach grown anywhere outside that area is safe to eat -- but industry needs to figure out how to let consumers know the origin of what they're buying before the green can return to sale, said Dr. David Acheson of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

"The public can be confident that spinach grown in those non-implicated areas can be consumed and industry is working to get spinach from these areas back on the market," Acheson told reporters....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/09/22/tainted.spinach/index.html

[CatholicEdHead]

1. Look for local famers market crops

which are coming in elsewhere this time of year.

[Cassandra]

5. I was at the greenmarket mid-week and...

a woman was worriedly asking if the loose spinach was safe (the farm was from upstate NY). There's nothing inherent about spinach that has it be more susceptible to contamination than other greens. This woman could not wrap her head around the possibility that local produce might be safe. Of course, other shoppers were grateful to be able to get their spinach fix from the local growers. I got some baby bok choy from that grower; like little jewels.

[blonndee]

9. Yup, that's what I'm doing from now on for all my produce. n/t

[AnneD]

2. Our farmer here in Texas...

are getting hit very badly. It is the big crop in Crystal city. The brands are Allen and Crystal brands. Hey, they have a statue of Popeye near the city hall. Go local buy organic.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. It's good that they pointed this out.

As others have posted, spinach is coming to market from local farms around the country. Buy it!

[BRLIB]

4. This is a HUGE Coverup for Big Agriculture!

You don't think that after they linked this to spinach over a week ago that they know what brands and could trace that down?
A major "stuperpower" that can't even provide safe spinach to it's citizens!
They are a joke! Brownie is in charge again!

[watercolors]

6. Just planted my own spinach

In florida, we have two raised beds and we love our greens. We're retired and have always had a small garden. Its healthy in more ways than one, excersise and you reap the benefits of a healthy ediable crop! We should bring back the old idea of the victory gardens.

[jab105]

7. People are so afrraid of everything...

I swear...I like spinach, and I'm willing to take the risk...

EVerything in the USA just blown out of proportion!

[blonndee]

8. Oh, thank goodness I can feel good about "some" of my food. nt

[UTUSN]

10. O.K., who goes first? n/t