--- title: Future E. coli outbreaks inevitable date: 2007-01-30T15:14:18-08:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/future-e-coli-outbreaks-inevitable" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Future E. coli outbreaks inevitable ![](http://www.ecoliblog.com/richard_besser_cdc.jpg) With absolute certainty, another E. coli outbreak will explode, a visiting lecturer said Thursday. John Besser, a clinical laboratory manager for the Minnesota Department of Health, was recently the guest lecturer a the University of Iowa. The MDH investigated an [E. coli](http://www.about-ecoli.com/) outbreak that had been traced to lettuce served at Taco John’s restaurants in Austin and Albert Lea, Minnesota, as well as in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Though a recent outbreak was traced back to spinach grown in California, E. coli is not limited to the leafy plant. It is becoming prominent in a number of substances, said Besser. Last fall, an E. coli outbreak ripped across the United States, killing three and causing 31 cases of [hemolytic uremic syndrome](http://www.about-hus.com/), which shuts down the kidneys. Since there has been an increase in E. coli outbreaks traced to leafy greens and other produce, experts are predicting future outbreaks. Consumer advocacy groups have stepped into the debate over what can better be done to protect the public from E. coli and other harmful pathogens. The Consumer Reports blog posted the Consumers Union opinion about California produce growers’ intent to publish marketing guidelines for crops: Costco now requires suppliers to random test spinach at the processing plant, including for E. coli 0157:H7 and salmonella, another bacteria that can cause serious infections in some people. Within weeks, Costco expects similar testing for other bagged and ready-to-eat products, such as lettuce salads and baby carrots. Shortly after the spinach outbreak, Natural Selection Foods, which processed the implicated spinach, started random testing of raw product for E. coli and salmonella. This month, it started testing finished product, too. The United Fresh Produce Association has asked for federal oversight of the produce industry. Now, the FDA regulates processing plants but only gives growers guidelines. ### 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 Restaurants](https://marlerclark.com/e-coli-outbreak-tied-to-red-cow-and-hen-house-restaurants) [Rockwood Summit High School E. coli 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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. E. coli O157:H7 may be the most notorious serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), but there are at least... ###### [Sources of E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/sources-of-e-coli) Where do E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) come from? The primary reservoirs, or ultimate sources, of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC in nature are... ###### [Transmission of and Infection with E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/transmission-of-and-infection-with-e-coli) While many dairy cattle-associated foodborne disease outbreaks are linked to raw milk and other raw dairy products (e.g., cheeses, butter, ice cream), dairy cattle still represent a source of contamination... ##### Outbreak Database #### Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks? 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. [ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)