The FDA says cattle grazing near leafy green fields has been a reoccurring factor in recent outbreaks. Apr 7th, 2021 iStock As part of ongoing efforts to combat foodborne illness, on April 6 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a report on the investigation into the Fall 2020 outbreak of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 illnesses linked to the consumption of leafy greens grown in the California Central Coast. The report describes findings from the investigation, as well as trends that are key to understanding leafy green outbreaks that are linked to the California Central Coast growing region, specifically encompassing the Salinas Valley and Santa Maria growing areas every fall since 2017.