Iowa is on the lookout for E. coli transmitted on contaminated leaves of spinach. An outbreak of E. coli is linked to packaged, fresh spinach that was distributed on the West Coast into at least 26 states, and was sold under 34 brand names, including Hy-Vee, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Virtually every grocer in the state has pulled (spinach) products from their shelves, even if they were not under one of those labels, reports Jerry Fleagle, president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association.

The affected spinach sickened some 183 people as of September 28, including an adult in Wisconsin who died from the infection. The source for the infected produce has yet to be identified.

Information about E.coli and other foodborne diseases is transmitted nationally over a laboratory database known as PulseNet. When a case of E.coli is suspected, a specimen is sent to the states public health laboratory. The University Hygienic Laboratory (UHL) is Iowas public health and environmental lab.

If E. coli is confirmed, the lab identifies the DNA fingerprint of the sample and compares it to the fingerprints of other organisms on PulseNet. When there is a match, the Iowa Department of Public Health is notified for further investigation.

For more daily updates on the E. coli outbreak, go to the FDA website.