Edhat Staff
(stock photo)
By edhat staff
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned consumers on Tuesday to not eat romaine lettuce, as it may be contaminated with E. coli.
At this point, the CDC has not identified which grower, supplier, distributor or source company is responsible. They are suggesting if anyone has romaine lettuce at home, it should be thrown away and not eaten, even if some was previously eaten and no one became ill.
“This advice includes all types or uses of romaine lettuce, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags and boxes of precut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad,” the CDC said in its announcement.
Retailers and restaurants also should not serve or sell any until more is known about the outbreak.
Currently, 32 people, including 13 who have been hospitalized, have been infected with the outbreak strain in 11 states. One of those hospitalized developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening form of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.
People have become sick in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified an additional 18 people who have become sick with the same strain of E. coli in Ontario and Quebec, reports the CDC.
Symptoms of E. coli infection, which usually begin about three or four days after consuming the bacteria, can include watery or bloody diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting, according to the CDC. Most people infected by the bacteria get better within five to seven days, though this particular strain of E. coli tends to cause more severe illness.
This outbreak is not related to a multistate outbreak linked to romaine lettuce this summer.
