A California cattle ranch was found to be responsible for the recent E. coli outbreak in spinach. State and federal officials concluded that the deadly E. coli strain originated from Paicines Ranch in San Benito County which is near a field that is leased to Mission Organics, a spinach grower. E. coli is the main species of bacteria living in the intestinal tracts of animals, making animal products the only source of E. coli infections.

Source of tainted spinach finally pinpointed. The Associated Press. Available at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17755937/. Accessed March 23, 2007.

Subscribe to PCRM's Breaking Medical News.

Breaking Medical News is a service of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, 5100 Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 400, Washington, DC 20016, 202-686-2210. Join PCRM and receive the quarterly magazine, Good Medicine.