Newswise — An E. coli outbreak that has prompted recall of spinach products will create a short-term economic "disaster," especially for growers and marketers, as existing inventories can't be sold for fresh consumption, says Dr. Conrad Lyford.
However, the long-term impact to the industry will depend on whether the cause of the outbreak can be determined and whether consumers feel assured that the incident is either isolated or can be permanently prevented, says Lyford, an assistant professor of agricultural and applied economics at Texas Tech University.
"There will be some negative impact for fresh vegetables in general," Lyford says. "If spinach is dangerous, then consumers may feel that other vegetable products could be as well."
This impact will largely be felt by spinach growers and fresh spinach marketers, Lyford says, since supermarkets and restaurants can offer substitute products, such as lettuce.
"The unknown nature of the outbreak is the most problematic aspect of the current situation," Lyford said.
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