The Farmer’s Outlet is cooperating with Ron Spada Farms in the recent recall of strawberries sold during June 25 and July 30, 2011. The berries sold are implicated in the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak which sickened several people. No other berries (raspberries, blackberries, marionberries, etc) are affected by this recall.
The Oregon Public Health Division confirmed that deer feces found in the strawberries field was the source of the E. coli O157:H7 infections that made several people sick.
It is impossible to know whether all of the strawberries sold were contaminated with E-coli. Many more people would have become ill if all of the strawberries were contaminated, as thousands of strawberries were sold throughout the season. However, it is also impossible to know whether they were infected and as such we are encouraging our customers to throw away any uncooked, frozen strawberries.
If you purchased and ate strawberries and did not get sick, you don’t need to do anything. The incubation period for E. coli is 2-7 days and it is unlikely you will get sick.
If you have any frozen strawberries including uncooked freezer jam, you should throw them out or another option is to cook your strawberries using the boil water method (waterbath canning.) The E. coli O157 bacteria is killed when it is cooked.
Jam made using the boil water method (waterbath canning) can be kept as it is cooked at very high temperatures. The boiling point of water is 212º F and jam that is processed using this method is cooked for 10 minutes (if directions were followed appropriately.) In comparison, it is recommended that meats be thoroughly cooked to 160 ºF to avoid infection with E. coli.
Public health officials emphasize that fruits and vegetables are important to a healthy diet; at least five servings per day are recommended. However, people need to take the following precautions with any uncooked produce:
- Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.
- Keep fruits and vegetables and other raw food separated from cooked food.
Providing a quality product is an important mission of ours and we will continue to strive to meet this mission.
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