Bacteria can come in many different strains or variations and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is no exception. Although most strains of E. coli are not harmful, Escherichia coli O157:H7, which was found last month in uncooked spinach, is an example of a harmful strain of E. coli that can cause sickness from foods that have been infected.
On September 14, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that the outbreak was due to bags of fresh spinach. Three days later the FDA called for bagged fresh spinach to be removed from stores and warned people not to eat any kind of fresh spinach or anything that contained spinach.
By Kayla Sawyer,
Staff Writer
Bacteria can come in many different strains or variations and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is no exception. Although most strains of E. coli are not harmful, Escherichia coli O157:H7, which was found last month in uncooked spinach, is an example of a harmful strain of E. coli that can cause sickness from foods that have been infected.
On September 14, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that the outbreak was due to bags of fresh spinach. Three days later the FDA called for bagged fresh spinach to be removed from stores and warned people not to eat any kind of fresh spinach or anything that contained spinach.
Pennsylvania is one of the areas reported to be affected by the outbreak. The Seton Hill University (SHU) Lowe Dining Hall also removed the spinach from their salad bar.
According to Cynthia Slater, the assistant food service director, the spinach was removed from the dining hall the day before it was reported in news. The dining hall lost one bag of spinach and three cases of the Mesqulin Mix Salad.
�Our produce orders have not decreased the least little bit,� said Slater. �The students have not stopped going to the salad bar. In fact, I am not sure it has fazed some students at all.�
According to Slater, the dining hall will start using spinach by either October 6 or the following week. The Mesqulin Mix Salad that the dining hall is currently using contains tat-soi, an organic product that looks exactly like spinach and has an identical flavor.
�Very tasty too,� said Slater.
E. coli is the abbreviated name of the bacterium Enterobacteriaceae named Escherichia. A form of E. coli actually occurs naturally along with other bacteria within our own intestines and is necessary for us to develop and function normally. These kinds of naturally occurring bacteria protect us against other invading bacteria and help to keep us healthy.
�I think the chances of anyone getting E. coli through SHU are very slim. Sysco Operating Companies is our food purveyor and they are very cautious with all of ARAMARK’s standards,� said Slater.
The FDA has determined that the raw spinach implicated in the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was grown in three California counties: Monterey, Santa Clara and San Bonito. Spinach grown in other areas of the United States was not implicated in the outbreak, and can be safely purchased and consumed.
ARAMARK Supply Chain Management recently removed the hold on purchasing raw spinach and salad mix containing raw spinach as long as the items are purchased only from Sysco Operating Companies. Sysco will only purchase raw spinach from suppliers who guarantee in writing that the spinach was grown in areas other than the three counties implicated in the outbreak.
�I used to get my salads made entirely of spinach,� said Sarah Slates, a sophomore. �When that spinach comes back, you better believe I�ll eat it.�
�If you refuse to eat spinach, then the E. coli has won,� said Ryan Gephart, a sophomore.
As of September 28, 2006, there have been 187 people infected and one death. Some of those infected suffered a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
�The dining service takes all food borne issues very seriously,� said Slater. �All food recalls are risky business and it is our job to make sure people get the safest food when they come to �lettuce� serve them.�
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