The 2006 outbreak of E. coli 0157:H7 from fresh spinach has prompted many growers to change their practices to ensure the safety of their produce. According to the Detroit Free Press, growers in Yuma, Arizona have been stepping up precautionary measures in order to prevent another massive outbreak and to make sure consumers feels safe about the produce they eat.
The outbreak in 2006, which claimed the lives of three people, and sickening over 200 people in 26 different states, was found to be tied to California spinach. It is believed that wild pigs spread E. coli 0157:H7 from a cattle ranch to the spinach fields.
According to the Detroit Free Press:
The outbreak prompted the Western Growers Association to create an agreement that incorporates the latest scientific practices for growing and handling produce, said Jasper Hempel, executive vice president and attorney for the trade group. When a food distributor signs the pact, it agrees to buy only from growers who abide by the practices and who agree to inspections by federally trained state inspectors.
California produce distributors have already signed the agreement. California produces virtually all spinach and lettuce produce for the United States during the summer, but Arizona produces the nation’s supply during the winter. Most major distributors in Arizona have also signed an agreement similar to the one in California.
California and Arizona growers have adopted new standards to protect their crops from E. coli contamination, including spacing produce fields at least a quarter mile away from cattle grazing ground and a mile away from feed lots. Growers will also need to evaluate their fields in news ways to prevent contamination due to storm runoff, flooding, irrigation water and fertilizer. The Western Growers Association also supports the creation of federal standards similar to those implemented in California and Arizona.
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