--- title: Flooded fields could be source of past E. coli outbreaks date: 2005-10-25T10:10:23-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/flooded-fields-could-be-source-of-past-e-coli-outbreaks" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Flooded fields could be source of past E. coli outbreaks ![](http://www.ecoliblog.com/10-53.jpg)The Herald Salinas Bureau reports that a report by the California Department of Health Services could affect a web of lawsuits and cross-complaints that have been filed in Salinas Valley, following [E. coli outbreaks](http://www.marlerclark.com/case_news/detail/salinas-valley-produce-accused-in-new-e-coli-suit/) that killed one woman and sickened more than 100 people in California and Washington. The report states that ready-to-eat produce grown on fields that have been, or could be, flooded should not be sold to the public. The new recommendations focus primarily on the area’s agricultural ditches. Investigators recommend steps that can be taken to prevent water from overflowing from the ditches, which could be contaminated, onto fields with ready-to-eat crops. The first outbreak occurred in July 2002 at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Wash., during a drill team and dance camp. The subsequent outbreaks in September and October 2003 involved customers who dined at Pat & Oscar’s, a restaurant chain in Southern California, and residents of a retirement community in San Mateo County. The lawsuit has involved Sodexho America LLC, Diamond Produce, Pismo Oceano Vegetable Produce, River Ranch Fresh Foods, ComGro, Inc., and the city of Salinas. A multi-agency study will continue throughout this year in an effort to examine water from the area’s agricultural ditches to see what preventative measures can be put in place to reduce the likelihood of contamination. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen House 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so... ###### [E. coli O157:H7](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in... ###### [Non-O157 STEC](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. 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[ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)