The Associate Press reports in this article that 50 people have become ill this week and one has died because of food contaminated with a dangerous strain of E. coli.  The FDA suspects fresh bagged spinach as a possible cause and is advising all Americans not to eat any.

The death occurred in Wisconsin, where 20 people were reported ill, 11 of them in Milwaukee. The outbreak has sickened others – eight of them seriously – in Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah. In California, state health officials said they were investigating a possible case there.

The full text of the FDA warning contains the typical symptoms of illness due to this strain of E. coli:

E. coli O157:H7 causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death. To date, 50 cases of illness have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including 8 cases of HUS and one death.

So throw away your bagged spinach, and if you feel ill after eating some, please see your doctor.