Spinach being sold anew in stores

In September this year, the Department of Public Health advised the community to throw away any spinach from their refrigerators and refrain from eating them to avoid the E. coli outbreak that had occurred in the U.S. mainland.

Months after that announcement, the healthy vegetable has found its way again to the shelves of supermarkets and grocery stores on the island.

According to Public Health Secretary Joseph Kevin P. Villagomez, salad lovers need not worry, as the Commonwealth’s supply of spinach remains free of E. coli contamination.

Villagomez clarified that the previous ban on spinach applied to only one vendor in the mainland. Spinach coming from other suppliers remain safe for human consumption, he said, adding that the spinach available in the CNMI comes from unaffected suppliers, while some are locally grown. He said the locally grown spinach is safe.

Since DPH released its advisory in September, there had not been any reported cases of illnesses caused by the bacteria, especially among those who had consumed the leafy salad staple.

The department, however, had advised people not to eat any fresh spinach or salad blends that contain fresh spinach that are consumed raw.

According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration statement, there were 26 states affected by the E. coli contamination and the numbers of illnesses in each state were: Arizona (8), California (2), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3), Idaho (7), Illinois (2), Indiana (10), Kentucky (8), Maine (3), Maryland (3), Michigan (4), Minnesota (2), Nebraska (11), Nevada (2), New Mexico (5), New York (11), Ohio (25), Oregon (6), Pennsylvania (10), Tennessee (1), Utah (19), Virginia (2), Washington (3), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (49), and Wyoming (1). Canada also had one confirmed case.

E. coli O157:H7 is one of many strains of the common bacterium Escherichia coli. Although most strains are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals, this strain can produce a powerful toxin and can cause severe illness. E. coli O157:H7 infection can cause bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Usually little or no fever is present, and the illness resolves in five to 10 days. Physicians in the CNMI are quite capable of diagnosing and managing any cases should they occur.