FDA thinks that E. coli-contaminated Roman comes from California

In a Thanksgiving tweet, Scott Gottlieb, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said the agency believed that California was the source of the E. coli-contaminated Roman, responsible for the ban. national lettuce.

Gottlieb had reported a day earlier that it was "likely" that lettuce was grown in California, but his Thanksgiving message seemed more certain.

"#FDA continues to investigate the origin of the outbreak of E. coli of Roman origin. We think this is related to lettuce harvested in California. We hope to have more information Monday by isolating the growing region. The new crop will soon be harvesting in other regions, "according to the tweet.

Ten of the 32 US cases are in California, the rest in 10 states east of Mississippi. Canadian health officials have reported 18 cases in this country.

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the outbreak on Nov. 20, he asked that all Roman be removed from the supply chain and that shippers cease to package and distribute all products to base of romaine, from whole heads, hearts, bagged salads and spring. mix. Retailers have been asked to remove all Roman shelves.

On November 20, the United Fresh Produce Association advised businesses to comply quickly and invited all individuals contacted by the original research regulators to provide assistance and make available records. d & # 39; shipping. But he had also asked the federal agencies to consider limiting the areas where the Roman was harvesting since the declaration of diseases, in the middle or end of November.

This is an extremely broad warning to consumers not to eat any kind of romaine from any growing region, "said a member of United Fresh. "While we insist that the industry can clearly identify some of the sources of romaine entering the market as not being related to the outbreak, the CDC and the FDA also request the voluntary withdrawal of the romaine lettuce before it is marketed. "

According to United Fresh, Yuma, Arizona, Roman did not start when the first diseases were reported in mid-October.

Western Growers also asked regulators to use the dates of harvest and occurrence of the disease to target the growing region.

"… It is important to recognize that a number of areas of current production did not harvest or ship Roman at the beginning of the outbreak and, therefore, could not be the source of the specific strain. d & # 39; E. Coli identified in diseases, "according to a Western Growers statement on November 21st. "In light of this evidence, we urge government health agencies to work with stakeholders to rapidly reduce the scope of the investigation and to remove these areas from the public can be assured. "