Food safety alert: outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce

November 23, 2019 in Food Safety, Nutrition Topics in the News

Food safety alert: outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the USFDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region.

Based on new information, CDC is advising that consumers not eat and retailers not sell any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region.

To date, 40 people have been reported sick in 16 states and 28 of them have been hospitalized.

Although an outbreak is not occurring in Canada, Canadian health officials are advising Canadians to follow the U.S.’s public health advice — avoid eating or serving romaine lettuce from Salinas, California.

This advice includes all types of romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, California such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and packages of precut lettuce and salad mixes which contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad.

Read labels for harvest location

Most romaine lettuce products are labeled with a harvest location showing where they were grown. If you have romaine lettuce at home. look for a label showing where it was grown. It may be printed on the package or on a sticker.

If the label says “Salinas”, don’t eat it, and throw it away.

If it isn’t labeled with a growing region, don’t eat it, and throw it away.

If you don’t know if the lettuce is romaine or whether a salad mix contains romaine, don’t eat it, and throw it away.

Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where romaine lettuce was stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

If you are buying romaine lettuce at a store, do not buy products that were harvested in Salinas. If it isn’t labeled with a growing region, don’t buy it.

On November 21, 2019, Missa Bay, LLC, recalled salad products due to possible E. coli contamination. The recalled salad products have “Use By” dates ranging from October 29, 2019, to November 1, 2019. The recalled products have establishment number “EST. 18502B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. This recall includes salad products that contained contaminated romaine lettuce.

Take action if you have symptoms of an E. coli infection:

  • Talk to your healthcare provider.
  • Write down what you ate in the week before you started to get sick.
  • Report your illness to your local health department.
  • Assist public health investigators by answering questions about your illness.
  • Prevent infections in others by practicing proper hygiene, especially good handwashing.

Source: CDC, November 23, 2019.

All research on this web site is the property of Leslie Beck Nutrition Consulting Inc. and is protected by copyright. Keep in mind that research on these matters continues daily and is subject to change. The information presented is not intended as a substitute for medical treatment. It is intended to provide ongoing support of your healthy lifestyle practices.