Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a report on the investigation into the Fall 2020 outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 illnesses, which was linked to the consumption of leafy greens. The report detailed findings from the investigation, as well as trends that are important in understanding leafy greens outbreaks linked to the California Central Coast growing region (the Salinas Valley- and Santa Monica-growing areas) that have occurred every autumn, starting in 2017.
In addition, FDA also released an updated version of the Leafy Green Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) Action Plan, which reaffirms the need for collaborative action to improve the safety of leafy greens. It also builds on the work FDA accomplished in 2020.