WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it's safe to eat spinach from locations other than three California counties linked to E. coli poisoning.
In a release, the agency said consumers are advised not to purchase or consume fresh spinach if they cannot verify that it was grown in areas other than Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara counties.
Among the reported infections in 26 states were 29 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, 95 hospitalizations and one death in Wisconsin. A total of 193 cases have been traced to California spinach.
Canada has also confirmed that one case of E. coli matching the California strain has been matched to the outbreak strain in a person who ate bagged spinach.
Frozen and canned spinach is not implicated in the outbreak, which was recognized on Sept. 14, the FDA said.
