20 Years Since the Spinach Outbreak - What Has Changed?

Twenty years ago, the 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to spinach fundamentally shifted how fresh leafy greens are grown, harvested, and distributed across North America. The tragedy served as a critical turning point for agriculture, leading directly to the establishment of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) in 2007 to enforce rigorous, mandatory food safety standards.

To mark two decades of progress, California LGMA has published a new white paper and infographic detailing the food safety advancements, cultural shifts, and scientific practices implemented since 2006.