Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html


The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
billion.

Bagged produce is often precut, releasing water and nutrients that
feed bacteria. The bags trap moisture, creating a humid heaven for
bacteria if refrigeration fails. The cut greens are hard to wash, and
you can't remove outer leaves as you can with a head of romaine.
The offender in this case is the toxic O157:H7 strain of Escherichia
coli.

Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
of O157:H7 in manure.



--

The most important tool of the scientist is the wastebasket.

....Albert Einstein

"Bob" > wrote

> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html

Interesting, thanks, Bob.

nancy

In article >,
Bob > wrote:

> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
>
>
> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> billion.
>
> Bagged produce is often precut, releasing water and nutrients that
> feed bacteria. The bags trap moisture, creating a humid heaven for
> bacteria if refrigeration fails. The cut greens are hard to wash, and
> you can't remove outer leaves as you can with a head of romaine.
> The offender in this case is the toxic O157:H7 strain of Escherichia
> coli.
>
> Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
> packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
> does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
> already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
> of O157:H7 in manure.

What about irradiation?
That is what they do to pre-peeled garlic cloves.
I use them a lot and they are fine!
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"Bob" > wrote in message
...
>
> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
>
>
> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> billion.
>
> Bagged produce is often precut, releasing water and nutrients that
> feed bacteria. The bags trap moisture, creating a humid heaven for
> bacteria if refrigeration fails. The cut greens are hard to wash, and
> you can't remove outer leaves as you can with a head of romaine.
> The offender in this case is the toxic O157:H7 strain of Escherichia
> coli.
>
> Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
> packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
> does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
> already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
> of O157:H7 in manure.


Here's an insane idea: Buy UNbagged fresh spinach. And, make it a
requirement that farms use only thoroughly composted manure.

In article >,
"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:

> "Bob" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
> >
> >
> > The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> > the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> > billion.
> >
> > Bagged produce is often precut, releasing water and nutrients that
> > feed bacteria. The bags trap moisture, creating a humid heaven for
> > bacteria if refrigeration fails. The cut greens are hard to wash, and
> > you can't remove outer leaves as you can with a head of romaine.
> > The offender in this case is the toxic O157:H7 strain of Escherichia
> > coli.
> >
> > Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
> > packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
> > does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> > animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
> > already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
> > of O157:H7 in manure.
>
>
> Here's an insane idea: Buy UNbagged fresh spinach. And, make it a
> requirement that farms use only thoroughly composted manure.

I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves, but I agree with the
composting statement!
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:

> Here's an insane idea: Buy UNbagged fresh spinach. And, make it a
> requirement that farms use only thoroughly composted manure.

I haven't seen any fresh spinach in this area (Wisconsin) in *any* store
for months. Since June, I think. And I have been looking; we love the
buttery taste of fresh spinach.

Has there been some kind of problem with the spinach crop this year?

Bob wrote:
> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
>
>
> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> billion.
>
> Bagged produce is often precut, releasing water and nutrients that
> feed bacteria. The bags trap moisture, creating a humid heaven for
> bacteria if refrigeration fails. The cut greens are hard to wash, and
> you can't remove outer leaves as you can with a head of romaine.
> The offender in this case is the toxic O157:H7 strain of Escherichia
> coli.
>
> Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
> packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
> does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
> already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
> of O157:H7 in manure.
>
>
>
> --
>
> The most important tool of the scientist is the wastebasket.
>
> ...Albert Einstein

Thanks for the info about the spinach containing bacteria

In article >,
lid wrote:

> In article >,
> "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
>
> > Here's an insane idea: Buy UNbagged fresh spinach. And, make it a
> > requirement that farms use only thoroughly composted manure.
>
> I haven't seen any fresh spinach in this area (Wisconsin) in *any* store
> for months. Since June, I think. And I have been looking; we love the
> buttery taste of fresh spinach.
>
> Has there been some kind of problem with the spinach crop this year?

<cough>

I see someone is seriously out of touch........ ;-)
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

"OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
news
> I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......

Why?

In article >,
"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:

> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
> news >
> > I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......
>
> Why?

'cause, no matter HOW hard I try, and how much I follow mom's advice, I
can never get all the freakin' sand out of fresh bunch spinach!!!!!!

I can eat "Fresh Express" brand baby spinach leaves right out of the
bag...... by the fistfull when I'm craving the damed things!

I just so cannot stand sand in my teeth...... :-(
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

One time on Usenet, Bob > said:
>
> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html

<snip>

> Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland.

Well, DUH! (That's not aimed at you, Bob.) That may not
be the easiest way to go, but it makes more sense than
trying to clean up after the fact.

> Many cows are already fed bacteria much like those in
> yogurt that reduce the amount of O157:H7 in manure.

Hmmm, would that make the beef from said cows easier to
digest? No, no, I'm just being silly...


--
"Little Malice" is Jani in WA
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

In article >,
OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:

> In article >,
> lid wrote:
>
<snip>
> >
> > Has there been some kind of problem with the spinach crop this year?
>
> <cough>
>
> I see someone is seriously out of touch........ ;-)

Heh. Actually, I had that question long before people were dropping from
e coli.

> wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
>
>> Here's an insane idea: Buy UNbagged fresh spinach. And, make it a
>> requirement that farms use only thoroughly composted manure.
>
> I haven't seen any fresh spinach in this area (Wisconsin) in *any* store
> for months. Since June, I think. And I have been looking; we love the
> buttery taste of fresh spinach.
>
> Has there been some kind of problem with the spinach crop this year?

Stores have to work harder to keep fresh spinach looking good, even just for
a day or three. And, customers resist buying it because they think they'll
drop dead if they have to spend an extra 4 minutes washing the inevitable
soil of the the curly leaves. So, some stores just don't bother stocking it.

In article >,
"JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:

> Stores have to work harder to keep fresh spinach looking good, even just for
> a day or three. And, customers resist buying it because they think they'll
> drop dead if they have to spend an extra 4 minutes washing the inevitable
> soil of the the curly leaves. So, some stores just don't bother stocking it.

That's a crying shame. Throw some chopped fresh spinach on practically
any frozen cheese pizza along with whatever else you like (sliced olives
and chile peppers, chopped artichoke hearts, onions, deli-sliced meat,
whatever), and it really makes it a treat.

Take away the spinach and it's just a frozen pizza with some extra
toppings.

"Bob" > wrote in message ...
>
> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
>
>
> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> billion.

The last I heard, the problem was traced to polluted irrigation water
and had nothing to do with the fact that the spinach was in a bag.
The contamination was inside the spinach leaves and could not have
been washed away even if it were sold unpackaged at a farmer's market.

> Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
> packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
> does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
> already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
> of O157:H7 in manure.


Oh great. So it's ok to let poop get in the food, as long as it's poop
that's good for you.

Don

Dave Smith > wrote:
>> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
>> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
>> billion.
>
>Good. I always thought that bagged spinach, lettuce and salad mixes were
>terribly overpriced.

They almost always seem to be available at 2-for-1 pricing, about
$2.50-3.00 for two 5-oz bags. I think Costco and Sams have it for
less than that. Probly still expensive though...


--

The most important tool of the scientist is the wastebasket.

....Albert Einstein

Bob wrote:

> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> billion.

Good. I always thought that bagged spinach, lettuce and salad mixes were
terribly overpriced. I was running into problems getting the bulk stuff in
quantities I needed because the stores were marketed the bagged stuff at
three times the price.

OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:
>In article >,
> "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
>
>> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
>> news >>
>> > I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......
>>
>> Why?
>
>'cause, no matter HOW hard I try, and how much I follow mom's advice, I
>can never get all the freakin' sand out of fresh bunch spinach!!!!!!

Two words:

Hydro

ponics.

--Blair
"Butter
Lettuce."

Don K > wrote:
>Oh great. So it's ok to let poop get in the food, as long as it's poop
>that's good for you.

(Checks watch)

4 billion years of evolution can't be wrong.

--Blair
"Your turn to follow the cattle
all day then play with your feet
before eating your poi..."

> OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:
>>In article >,
>> "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
>>
>>> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
>>> news >>>
>>> > I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......
>>>
>>> Why?
>>
>>'cause, no matter HOW hard I try, and how much I follow mom's advice, I
>>can never get all the freakin' sand out of fresh bunch spinach!!!!!!

put them in a collander that's in a larger bowl (or use the salad spinner).
don't overload the leaves. fill with water and swish around with your
hands. drain and do it again. i never have a problem with dirt in my
greens. the secret is to do it in many small batches.

FDA findings -

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2006/NEW01474.html


--

Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength.

....Eric Hoffer

One time on Usenet, Blair P. Houghton > said:
> OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:
> >In article >,
> > "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
> >> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
> >> news

> >> > I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......

> >> Why?

> >'cause, no matter HOW hard I try, and how much I follow mom's advice, I
> >can never get all the freakin' sand out of fresh bunch spinach!!!!!!

> Two words:
>
> Hydro
>
> ponics.

After all, thousands of dope growers can't be wrong... ;-)

--
"Little Malice" is Jani in WA
~ mom, Trollop, novice cook ~

You see it all goes back several months to when I was riding high and
listening to hood music. Anyway as I recalled living in the urban part
of philadelphia I remembered my highschool and how he government
sponsored lunch was called "Freebies" mind you it was delicious only
problem was that everyone would make fun of people in that program. i
wasn't in it but I would beat people over their lunch tickets. It
occurred to me just how much fun it was calling people freebie eaters
and saying things like "look at her swallow those freebies" and the
like. So I thought why not let the kids of today enjoy humor when
someone would say LOOK AT the boy EATING THOSE "E.COLI FREEBIES". This
in turn put the "mother" in "mother****er"



Bob wrote:
> Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
>
>
> The outcome of this spinach misfortune may be an expensive reform of
> the bagged-salad business, which generates annual sales of $2.5
> billion.
>
> Bagged produce is often precut, releasing water and nutrients that
> feed bacteria. The bags trap moisture, creating a humid heaven for
> bacteria if refrigeration fails. The cut greens are hard to wash, and
> you can't remove outer leaves as you can with a head of romaine.
> The offender in this case is the toxic O157:H7 strain of Escherichia
> coli.
>
> Several preventive measures are possible. One is to mandate that salad
> packers douse the leaves with chlorine solution, but Natural Selection
> does that. Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland. Many cows are
> already fed bacteria much like those in yogurt that reduce the amount
> of O157:H7 in manure.
>
>
>
> --
>
> The most important tool of the scientist is the wastebasket.
>
> ...Albert Einstein

In article > ,
Blair P. Houghton > wrote:

> OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:
> >In article >,
> > "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
> >
> >> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
> >> news > >>
> >> > I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......
> >>
> >> Why?
> >
> >'cause, no matter HOW hard I try, and how much I follow mom's advice, I
> >can never get all the freakin' sand out of fresh bunch spinach!!!!!!
>
> Two words:
>
> Hydro
>
> ponics.
>
> --Blair
> "Butter
> Lettuce."

<lol!> Good idea... ;-)
I do buy the hydroponic butter lettuce!
I love the stuff.
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article <nCtUg.15257$3T2.11373@trnddc06>,
"AllEmailDeletedImmediately" > wrote:

> > OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:
> >>In article >,
> >> "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
> >>
> >>> "OmManiPadmeOmelet" > wrote in message
> >>> news > >>>
> >>> > I _like_ the pre-washed bagged baby spinach leaves.......
> >>>
> >>> Why?
> >>
> >>'cause, no matter HOW hard I try, and how much I follow mom's advice, I
> >>can never get all the freakin' sand out of fresh bunch spinach!!!!!!
>
> put them in a collander that's in a larger bowl (or use the salad spinner).
> don't overload the leaves. fill with water and swish around with your
> hands. drain and do it again. i never have a problem with dirt in my
> greens. the secret is to do it in many small batches.

I've probably been in too much of a hurry... ;-)
Mom always filled the sink up for rinsing and used a screen colander.
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

In article >,
unge (Little Malice) wrote:

> > >In article >,
> > > "JoeSpareBedroom" > wrote:
>
> > Two words:
> >
> > Hydro
> >
> > ponics.
>
> After all, thousands of dope growers can't be wrong... ;-)
>
> --
> "Little Malice"

ROFL!!!!
--
Peace, Om

Remove extra . to validate e-mails.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a Son of a bitch" -- Jack Nicholson

OmManiPadmeOmelet > wrote:
>I've probably been in too much of a hurry... ;-)
>Mom always filled the sink up for rinsing and used a screen colander.

Yup. Dunk, swish, lift, wait for sand to settle,
repeat until satisfied.

--Blair

Little Malice wrote:
> One time on Usenet, Bob > said:
> >
> > Excerpts from http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2006/1016/048a.html
>
> <snip>
>
> > Another approach is to try to displace O157:H7 in farm
> > animals, whose manure can be spread to nearby farmland.
>
> Well, DUH! (That's not aimed at you, Bob.) That may not
> be the easiest way to go, but it makes more sense than
> trying to clean up after the fact.
>
> > Many cows are already fed bacteria much like those in
> > yogurt that reduce the amount of O157:H7 in manure.
>
> Hmmm, would that make the beef from said cows easier to
> digest? No, no, I'm just being silly...
>

http://www.enviroblog.org/2006/09/sp...victims_of.htm

Spinach growers are victims of E. coli, not culprits

While sensationalists and those fond of chemical-intensive farming were
ready to hang the organic industry at the first mention of an E coli
outbreak, NYT farm and food columnist Nina Planck says the culprit is
not spinach growers at all, but rather industrial beef and dairy
farmers.

E. coli O157:H7, the virus strain responsible for making humans ill, is
not found in the intestines of cattle fed a natural diet of grass and
hay. The virus thrives in the acidic stomachs of cattle fed on grain,
the typical feed on industrial farms.

In 2003, The Journal of Dairy Science noted that up to 80 percent of
dairy cattle carry O157. (Fortunately, food safety measures prevent
contaminated fecal matter from getting into most of our food most of
the time.) Happily, the journal also provided a remedy based on a
simple experiment. When cows were switched from a grain diet to hay for
only five days, O157 declined 1,000-fold.
This means that even if beef cattle were switched to a natural grass
diet several days before slaughter, cross-contamination by manure in
meat packing plants would be drastically reduced. It would take a lot
longer to reduce contamination of groundwater and rivers, used to
irrigate spinach farms. But Planck has an idea: Instead of USDA paying
75 percent of the cost for manure containment ponds and only treating
the symptoms, how about they try treating the disease by switching
cattle over to a natural diet.

> wrote in message
oups.com...

> http://www.enviroblog.org/2006/09/sp...victims_of.htm
>
> Spinach growers are victims of E. coli, not culprits
>
> While sensationalists and those fond of chemical-intensive farming were
> ready to hang the organic industry at the first mention of an E coli
> outbreak, NYT farm and food columnist Nina Planck says the culprit is
> not spinach growers at all, but rather industrial beef and dairy
> farmers.

It's not a black & white issue, apparently.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...n003240D08.DTL

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
> > http://www.enviroblog.org/2006/09/sp...victims_of.htm
> >
> > Spinach growers are victims of E. coli, not culprits
> >
> > While sensationalists and those fond of chemical-intensive farming were
> > ready to hang the organic industry at the first mention of an E coli
> > outbreak, NYT farm and food columnist Nina Planck says the culprit is
> > not spinach growers at all, but rather industrial beef and dairy
> > farmers.
>
> It's not a black & white issue, apparently.
> http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...n003240D08.DTL


Really! Apparently Organic Spinach has not been implicated in the
E-Coli outbreak!