Epidemic of E. Coli: CDC say to throw romaine lettuce

In all COLORADO countries – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a food safety alert on Tuesday, saying that there was an epidemic of E. Coli in several states related to romaine lettuce being the subject of an investigation. In the alert, the CDC said it advised American consumers not to eat romaine lettuce and retailers and restaurants not to serve or sell romaine lettuce until the agency gets more information about the outbreak.

According to the CDC, 32 people in 11 states were infected with E. coli during the last outbreak. The diseases began on dates from October 8 to 31. The CDC says that at least 13 people were hospitalized and one person developed a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

In addition, 18 people became ill in two Canadian provinces.

In the United States, E. coli cases have been reported in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Ohio and Wisconsin.

The CDC said that consumers who have any type of romaine lettuce at home should throw it away even if part of it was eaten and no one became ill.

The Department of Public Health and the Environment of Colorado issued the following statement:

Customers who have already purchased romaine lettuce or products containing romaine lettuce, including bagged salads, whole heads, hearts, mixed salads or prepared salads that can not confirm the source are asked to throw them away and not to eat them. The US Food and Drug Administration reports that people have become ill after eating romaine lettuce grown in or growing in winter growing areas of Yuma, Arizona. This region generally provides Romaine lettuce in the United States from November to March each year. No specific producer, supplier, distributor or brand has been identified yet. For more information, visit www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm604254.htm.

Here is what the CDC also said on the advice to discard any type of romaine lettuce:

• This advice includes all types or uses of romaine lettuce, such as whole head of romaine, romaine hearts, bags and boxes of pre-cut lettuce and mixed salads containing romaine, including romaine lettuce, spring mix and Caesar salad.
• If you do not know if lettuce is Roman or if a salad mix contains romaine, do not eat it or throw it away.
• Wash and disinfect the drawers or shelves of the refrigerators where the Roman was stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes made from Roman, said the CDC.

The current epidemic is not related to the most recent outbreak of E. Coli which, according to the agency, had been completed since June 28.

The symptoms of E. Coli vary from one person to another, but often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting, according to the CDC. Some people may have fever, which is not usually very high. Some infections are benign while others can be serious or life threatening. The CDC warns that about 5 to 10% of people develop a life-threatening complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure.

Most people get sick about three to four days after consuming something that contains the bacteria, but diseases can begin between one and 10 days after exposure, says the CDC.

Here's the CDC's advice for those with E. coli symptoms:

• Talk to your health care provider.
• Write down what you have eaten in the week before your illness.
• Report your illness to the Department of Health.
• Help public health investigators by answering questions about your illness.

By Feroze Dhanoa, National Patch Staff Member

Photo via Shutterstock

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