Food Poisoning Health Center

Spinach & E. coli: Questions & Answers

Q. Does the spinach warning apply only to bagged fresh spinach?

A. No.

Fresh spinach in this warning includes bagged spinach, spinach in plastic "clamshell" containers", and loose spinach purchased from retailers, says the FDA.

Q. Does the spinach warning apply to organic spinach as well as conventionally grown spinach?

A. Yes.

The FDA's warning applies to all fresh spinach, regardless of the growing method.

Q. What does the FDA recommend doing with fresh spinach or products containing fresh spinach that consumers may already have?

A. The FDA recommends that the product be thrown away.