LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- California growers could lose100 million U.S. dollars because of the E. coli outbreak probably caused by bagged spinach, authorities said on Sunday.

    Federal officials have expanded an earlier warning against eating bagged spinach to include all fresh spinach and any product containing the raw greens, worsening the woes of the nation's fresh spinach industry, which is centered in California.

    Growers were jolted by the new warning. "That pretty much eliminates the spinach crop for the time being," said Bob Perkins, executive director of the Monterey County Farm Bureau. Still, he said, "Better safe than sorry."

    Even before the expanded warning was issued, economists estimated that the crisis could cost the state's industry between 50 million and 100 million dollars.

    Investigators on Sunday continued their probe of a sprawling farming business in San Juan Bautista, California to determine whether bagged spinach was the cause for the E. coli outbreak that has killed on person and sickened more than 100 people nationwide.

    "What we need to do is get a clear message to consumers," said Dr. David Acheson, chief medical officer of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's food safety branch.

    The E. coli outbreak has prompted a California-based company to recall bagged spinach and forced the vegetable off the menu. Enditem