Tainted Spinach: Washing Won't Even Help!

I've been spending so many late nights working since the term started that I have not stayed on top of recent news coverage. (I'm embarrassed to admit that I somehow managed to hear about the birth of Britney Spears' second child, but not any actual news like the topic of this post...) Anyway, thank goodness I met up with my friend's bridal party last night to scarf down a bowl of Vietnamese pho. It was during this dinner that I was warned about the recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in bagged spinach.

The FDA first released a warning this past Thursday. By Friday, reports of infection appeared in at least 20 states including Pennsylvania and New York. By then, California natural foods company Natural Selection Foods LLC had been identified as the source of the problematic green vegetable. Brands that have pulled their bagged spinach from the shelves are: Bellissima, Cheney Brothers, Coastline, Compliments, Cross Valley, D'Arrigo Brothers, Dole, Earthbound Farm, Emeril, Fresh Point, Green Harvest, Jansal Valley, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Natural Selection Foods, Nature's Basket, O Organic, Premium Fresh, President's Choice, Pride of San Juan, Pro-Mark, Rave Spinach, Ready Pac, River Ranch, Riverside Farms, Snoboy, Superior, Sysco, Tanimura & Antle, The Farmer's Market, Trader Joe's.

Just my luck that the one leafy green vegetable that I do frequently eat is the one that may cause kidney failure after a week-long bout of diarrhea.