An E. coli poisoning outbreak associated with Wegmans spinach salad has sickened at least 16 people in New York, 4 of whom were hospitalized. One is still in the hospital. Wegmans Food Markets has 81 stores in New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Spinach has caused deadly E. coli outbreaks in the past, and retailers should take extra care to make sure they are not selling tainted spinach to their customers. There is no excuse for selling food contaminated with E. coli.
In response to this outbreak, on November 1, 2012, Wegmans recalled the following Organic Spinach and Spring Mix salads because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria:
- Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix, 11oz – UPC: 77890-16411 – ONLY product sold between 10/14/12 and 11/1/12; and
- Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix, 5oz – UPC: 77890-16437 – ONLY product sold between 10/14/12 and 11/1/12.
Note that the products were sold yesterday and the incubation period for E. coli food poisoning is up to 10 days. There will be more people diagnosed with E. coli O157 linked to the Wegmans spinach salad.
State Garden, a spinach distributor, allegedly sold the spinach to Wegmans. It is unclear when the spinach was contaminated with E. coli.
