E. coli strain linked to cattle ranch

[Guest guest]

http://tinyurl.com/svgxl

 

By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 43 minutes ago

 

 

 

The same strain of deadly bacteria that sickened dozens of people

nationwide has been found at a cattle ranch in California's Salinas

Valley within a mile of spinach fields, investigators said Thursday.

 

Investigators still can't be sure if the E. coli found in cow manure

contaminated the fields, but said the find warrants further

investigation.

 

" We do not have a smoking cow at this point, " said Dr. Kevin Reilly,

deputy director of the Prevention Services Division of the California

Department of Health Services. Nevertheless, Reilly called the match

an important finding.

 

There are still many unanswered questions and the probe is

continuing, said Dr. Robert Brackett, director of the FDA's Center

for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

 

" It's our expectation that no farm should feel they are off the

hook, " Brackett said.

 

Investigators still do not know how the feces could have contaminated

the spinach implicated in the bacterial outbreak. They also do not

know if the ranch used manure from the cattle to fertilize its

fields. Nor is there evidence that livestock entered the spinach

fields on the ranch. However, wild pigs roamed the property, they

said.

 

" There's lots of wildlife and lots of potential for breakdown in the

fencing, " Reilly told reporters.

 

The strain of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 was found in three cattle

fecal samples collected at the ranch, one of four under

investigation, the officials said. It matched the strain found in

sick patients and in bags of recalled spinach.

 

Investigators continue to look at agricultural runoff, irrigation

water and the hygiene of farm workers as potential sources of the

bacteria.

 

The recent outbreak of E. coli in spinach killed three people and

sickened nearly 200 in half the states. It was the 20th such outbreak

in lettuce or spinach since 1995.

 

The find marks the first time that investigators have identified a

possible source for an E. coli outbreak in the region, Reilly said.

 

The produce company that processed and packaged the spinach at the

center of the outbreak investigation has repeatedly asserted its

factories are blameless and pointed to the fields where the greens

are grown as the potential source of the problem.

 

" This definitely reinforces our belief that the source was

environmental, " said Samantha Cabaluna, a spokeswoman for Natural

Selection Foods.

[Guest guest]

Gasp- cheapskate meat factories are responsible for sickness in people??

[punches Andrew Bridges' shoulder] That's a real funny joke, you almost had me

there. Like the government would ever allow the mass production and distribution

of something that could make us sick or poison our world. They care more about

us than that, man. This is the spinach's fault for sure. Damned little

nutrient-packed, fat-free, tasty leaves. I bet they cause obesity, heart

disease, and cancer, plus contribute to osteoporosis. We'd best remove them from

our diets- wouldn't that be silly to keep on eating something that was a

constant threat to our immediate and long-term health?

 

Kadee Sedtal, who hasn't even been drinking (surprised?)

 

" Cuthbert J. Twillie " <jdsears669 wrote:

http://tinyurl.com/svgxl

 

By ANDREW BRIDGES, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 43 minutes ago

 

 

The same strain of deadly bacteria that sickened dozens of people

nationwide has been found at a cattle ranch in California's Salinas

Valley within a mile of spinach fields, investigators said Thursday.

 

Investigators still can't be sure if the E. coli found in cow manure

contaminated the fields, but said the find warrants further

investigation.

 

" We do not have a smoking cow at this point, " said Dr. Kevin Reilly,

deputy director of the Prevention Services Division of the California

Department of Health Services. Nevertheless, Reilly called the match

an important finding.

 

There are still many unanswered questions and the probe is

continuing, said Dr. Robert Brackett, director of the FDA's Center

for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

 

" It's our expectation that no farm should feel they are off the

hook, " Brackett said.

 

Investigators still do not know how the feces could have contaminated

the spinach implicated in the bacterial outbreak. They also do not

know if the ranch used manure from the cattle to fertilize its

fields. Nor is there evidence that livestock entered the spinach

fields on the ranch. However, wild pigs roamed the property, they

said.

 

" There's lots of wildlife and lots of potential for breakdown in the

fencing, " Reilly told reporters.

 

The strain of pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 was found in three cattle

fecal samples collected at the ranch, one of four under

investigation, the officials said. It matched the strain found in

sick patients and in bags of recalled spinach.

 

Investigators continue to look at agricultural runoff, irrigation

water and the hygiene of farm workers as potential sources of the

bacteria.

 

The recent outbreak of E. coli in spinach killed three people and

sickened nearly 200 in half the states. It was the 20th such outbreak

in lettuce or spinach since 1995.

 

The find marks the first time that investigators have identified a

possible source for an E. coli outbreak in the region, Reilly said.

 

The produce company that processed and packaged the spinach at the

center of the outbreak investigation has repeatedly asserted its

factories are blameless and pointed to the fields where the greens

are grown as the potential source of the problem.

 

" This definitely reinforces our belief that the source was

environmental, " said Samantha Cabaluna, a spokeswoman for Natural

Selection Foods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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