Real Cause of E. coli Spinach Problem

Food-borne illnesses like the E. coli infections caused by contaminated spinach point to major problems with the industrialization of food production, which has created many risks for consumers.

The Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection was caused by a "combination of direct contact with wildlife feces during storage and cross-contamination during washing and peeling."

To remedy the problem, experts are calling for (as common sense would indicate) "multiple measures at multiple levels" to change the way produce is grown, harvested, stored, cleaned, packed and shipped.

Clearly, mass food production is beginning to show signs of neglect, and that neglect is being passed down to consumers looking to buy fresh produce. A safer, more effective option, as many consumers are beginning to appreciate, is to choose locally grown foods over those that have been mass produced.

Not only is non-industrialized food safer, but it's tastier and fresher as well. More and more people are starting to find that out. Already, the organic food market is a $9-billion industry, and is expected to grow about 20 percent a year. And in 2004, about 79 percent of organic farmers were selling their harvests within 100 miles of their farms, with word-of-mouth as their marketing strategy.

One of your best bets to virtually eliminate any exposure to these types of problems in the future would be to purchase your vegetables from locally grown sources. Supporting local farmers would go a long way toward improving the entire system, and more importantly, your personal health.

Here are some great resources to obtain wholesome, local food grown in a sustainable way that is also less likely to spread disease:

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, Community  Supported Agriculture (CSA)

Farmers' Markets -- A national listing of farmers' markets.

Weston A. Price Foundation -- The goal of the Weston A. Price Foundation is to restore nutrient-dense traditional foods to the human diet through education, research, and activism.

Local Harvest -- This Web site will help you find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies.

Eat Well Guide: Wholesome Food from Healthy Animals -- The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs from farms, stores, restaurants, inns, and hotels, and online outlets in the United States and Canada.

Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) -- CISA is dedicated to sustaining agriculture and promoting the products of small farms.