Note:  According to the FDA – “The FDA, CDC and our state partners have identified a common grower between each of the outbreaks, which is a notable development.”

According to the FDA, there are presently three outbreaks under investigation.  These outbreaks are each caused by strains that are different from each other and different. One of the outbreaks in Washington state (13 sick), is potentially linked to lettuce. Another outbreak, with cases in the U.S. and Canada, is linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits (8 sick in US and 25 sick in Canada). And, the largest outbreak according to the CDC, has a total of 138 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 25 states.  States with Cases: AZ (3), CA (4), CO (6), FL (2), IA (1), ID (3), IL (10), MD (5), MI (1), MN (5), MT (1), NE (2), NJ (9), NC (2), NM (2), OH (12), OR (1), PA (17), SC (1), SD (1), TN (1), TX (6), VA (6), WA (4), WI (33).  Two illnesses have been reported in Canada.

I have filed lawsuits in each of the three cases above, and eventually, likely within 90 days, the Court process will out that “common grower.”  However, certainly federal, state and county officials know, as do others in private industry.

If someone either announces the name or calls me with it in the next 24 hours, I will donate $25,000 – half to the Arizona Leafy Green Marketing Agreement and half to the California Leafy Green Marketing Agreement.