CDC expands romaine lettuce recall
On April 20, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region is suspected in the E. coli outbreak that has hospitalized 31 people.
On April 20, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Ariz., growing region is suspected in the E. coli outbreak that has hospitalized 31 people. Some 53 cases have been reported in 16 states, the CDC reported on its website. While no one has died, five people have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. No grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified as the outbreak’s source.
The recall now includes whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region, in addition to chopped romaine and salads and salad mixes containing romaine. In fact, the agency is advising consumers to throw out any store-bought romaine lettuce at home unless they are certain about where it was grown. “Product labels often do not identify growing regions; so, throw out any romaine lettuce if you’re uncertain about where it was grown,” wrote the CDC on its website.
The expanded warning is based on information from newly reported illnesses in Alaska. Ill people in Alaska reported eating lettuce from whole heads of romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region.