Starbucks 'Trenta': How The New Size Compares To Your Stomach
Famous Death Row Last Meals
Now that more than 100 cases of E. coli infections and one fatality have resulted from contaminated bagged spinach, the National Restaurant Association has recommended that restaurants remove spinach from their menus, at least for the time being. McDonald's and several other chains, including California Pizza Kitchen, have already done so. The infections have been reported in 19 states so far and the cause has not yet been confirmed, but it is now suspected that contaminated irrigation water, which the spinach is exposed to when it is packed in the field, may have been a contributing factor.
The FDA is recommending avoiding all fresh spinach or salad blends with spinach, even spinach that is being sold at farmers markets. Washing it will not kill the bacteria and can even spread it around. Similarly, while cooking spinach can kill E. coli, you still run the risk of contamination just from handling it. If you really have your heart set on making a spinach dish, frozen spinach is the safest choice.
Jane Seymour's Modest And Modern Style
Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
PHOTOS: How You Can Get The 'Miracle' Dress
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Janice Dickinson's Outrageous Style
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Photos Of Dead Lacrosse Player's Injured Body Shown To Jury
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation
WATCH AND LAUGH: Cops In 2-Hour Standoff With Empty Car
Woman's Dead Fiance Is Behind Her Disappearance: Cops
Stephen Wiltshire Draws Cities From Memory
We Meant There WERE Nukes In The Fire
9-19-2006 @6:34PM Miranda said... If it is true about the contamination irrigation water, how much other produce might be affected?
Reply
9-19-2006 @7:02PM MJ said... I agree M. The way it spread to so many states makes me wonder about all produce. I had just bought a bag of baby greens for a salad and tossed that! Better safe than sorry
Reply
9-19-2006 @7:38PM Ed said... This scare is so retardedly overhyped.
On average, 200 people a day get sick from e coli. This "outbreak" has gotten 100 people sick in a week. Give me a break.
75000 people a year get e coli. It's a fact of life. If you aren't very young, very old, or have a weakened immune system, you're gonna live through it.
People need to look at these numbers in context. This scare is pathetic, and the media and the fda are pathetic for hyping it as much as they have.
Oh, and Miranda, nice job linking to your hoodia sales pitch. I truly believe you aren't just trying to increase your adwords revenue and your pagerank. No, really, I do.
Reply
9-19-2006 @9:48PM chef jason said... people get e coli all the time indeed
the fact that it is in the news makes the average jane stay away of spinch.
so for a restaurant to take it off the menu says they care to the public , and it saves them from having to Waste the Prep and labor time on a salad that wont sell
and now we as restaurant professionals turn our eye to what else the media is going to make us take off the menu in the near future
Reply
9-20-2006 @2:19PM Adriane said... Your bet bet is FROZEN spinach? What about local farmers? True this is harder in the city, but buying from local small farms that you can trust, rather than those giant factory farms. This is a time to wake up and understand where our food is coming from!
Reply
9-20-2006 @5:03PM Bert said... I'm disappointed that nobody is recommending disinfecting the vegetables prior to consuption. This was a part of life when I was living in Mexico because you couldn't guarantee sanitary growing conditions.
The only things that our doctor recommended we not eat were strawberries and similar fruits because they couldn't be thoroughly cleaned and should be cooked before consumption.
Reply
9-25-2006 @4:51PM Peter said... Ed - Even if everything you say is true there is a big difference between eating something and getting sick "at random" and voluntarily eating something that is a known risk. Sure, every piece of food carries some risk, but here's a situation where a specific food is known to carry a higher than normal risk. Why take the chance?
Besides, no one NEEDS to eat spinach. There are plenty of other vegetables that you can eat for a few weeks.
Reply