In September 2006, the FDA issued a statement warning of E. Coli bacteria in spinach. The outbreak originated on a central California farm. It eventually claimed five lives and caused 205 illnesses across 26 states, with most cases occurring in the Midwest. Ultimately, the spinach industry reported a $350 million loss as a result of the outbreak.
In August 2010, two Iowa farms recalled 550 million eggs as a result of 1,500 cases of illness associated with salmonella, according to the CDC. The FDA said the contamination was possibly due to the cleanliness and size of the farms' chicken cages.
Read more