DeKALB | Popeye may have recommended eating spinach to get “strong to the finish,” but you might want to lay off the leafy green for a while.

The FDA issued an alert Sept. 14 about an outbreak of an E. coli strain, thought to be from bagged fresh spinach.

The alert was a surprise to some; Freshman political science major Jennifer Le Vine first stopped eating lettuce Friday based on what she had heard. Normally she eats spinach for its high antioxidant levels, but she began to keep it out of her vegetarian diet soon after she found out. This was not too difficult for her, as the dining halls had already shifted their menus in response.

“I heard about it [Friday] morning,” said Ralph Chaplin, director of residential dining. “We had all the spinach off the line by noon.”

Over the weekend, 19 states, with a majority of cases in Wisconsin, have reported a total of 109 illnesses and one death. A news release from the state’s public health department said the outbreak has not yet been seen in Illinois. Anyone developing symptoms from bagged spinach, however, should contact their health care provider immediately.

Senior criminology student Ryan Clair found out Friday afternoon, when a delivery driver made his delivery to Pita Pete’s. Clair, who works behind the counter, said the restaurant placed an order earlier in the week, but Sysco had begun completely halting all deliveries of spinach.

As for how long the alert will last, both the FDA and the Illinois alerts assert “the investigation is ongoing,” but failed to discuss specific dates. Natural Selection Foods LLC has issued a recall throughout North America, but may not be the only source for the tainted spinach.

“I hope it gets returned soon,” Le Vine said. “It really does help you build big muscles.”