US federal health officials say that they have found the E. coli 0157:H7 strain in a Salinas Valley farm in California. This is the same E. coli strain found in the tainted spinach from the same valley that killed three people and made 200 ill in 26 states.

Authorities took fecal samples from three head of cattle and found the E. coli matched the tainted spinach's precisely.

Dr. Kevin Reilly, Deputy Director, Prevention Services Division, California Department of Health, said "This is a significant finding and it is the first time that we have linked the E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak to a specific ranch in the Salinas Valley."

Dr. Reilly said the cattle were in farms that were half a mile to a mile from the spinach crops that had the contaminated spinach. He added that an additional 650 samples are being tested. The FDA has been voicing concern at the cattle's proximity to vegetable farms.

Investigators say the search for the E. Coli source(s) is still ongoing. They want to find out whether other farms were involved, as well as checking whether contamination took place at the packing plant.

The last few weeks have seen several recalls of US farmed products - first there was the spinach, then carrot juice that was tainted with botulism, ground beef was recalled and finally fresh lettuce. All tests for the ground beef have come back negative (good news).

California Department of Health