New Brunswick joins provinces affected by E. coli linked to romaine lettuce

A case of E. Coli suspected of being linked to romaine lettuce has been confirmed in New Brunswick, making it the third province affected by an outbreak that has now sickened 19 people in Canada.

"New Brunswickers should avoid consuming romaine lettuce and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce until more is known about the outbreak and the cause of the contamination", said Dr. Jennifer Russell, Chief Medical Officer of the Province, in a statement released Wednesday.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, which warned people Tuesday not to consume romaine lettuce in Ontario and Quebec, is aware of the case in New Brunswick, spokeswoman Anna Maddison said. CBC News, and is currently updating its national notice.

The strain of E. Coli contaminating lettuce is the same as that which caused a similar outbreak last year, prompting questions as to why the federal government refrained from issuing a mandatory recall.

"Basically, lightning strikes twice," said Professor Keith Warriner, a microbiologist specializing in food safety at the University of Guelph, pointing out that the strain, E. coli O157, was particularly "virulent", which which makes people more sick of other forms of bacteria.

"It's worrying that it's the same strain [of E. coli as last year]which basically means that it's the same source. And that means they've never solved the problem, "he said.

Keith Warriner, a microbiologist specializing in food safety at the University of Guelph, said Canadian and US regulators should issue a mandatory recall of romaine lettuce during the current outbreak of E. Coli. (University of Guelph)

In addition to the case of New Brunswick, there have been 15 cases of bacterial infection confirmed in Quebec and three in Ontario since mid-October, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Although no deaths were reported, at least six people were hospitalized.

South of the border, the outbreak also sickened 32 people in 11 US states, according to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).

Health officials have never been able to determine with certainty what caused the contamination of romaine lettuce by E. coli O157 in Canada and the United States in November and December 2017. As they were unable to locate a specific lettuce supplier, they did not issue a reminder.

It was a "point of frustration" at the time, said Warriner, as it left retailers and restaurants in uncertainty about the opportunity to remove romaine lettuce from their homes. tablets – what many have ended up doing anyway.

Regulators are "still a bit reluctant to press this reminder button", he said, because they do not want to risk choosing the wrong company or the wrong supplier, which can have devastating financial consequences for this company or sector.

Between the farm and the store department, lettuce goes through "many hands" and processes, he said, making it very difficult to identify the source of E. coli contamination.

When CBC News asked him why a recall had not yet been recalled, a spokesman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said the agency was conducting a investigation of the possible source of the epidemic.

"If a specific brand and / or source of Roman lettuce or other product is identified during the investigation, the CFIA will take appropriate action. 39 A food product is issued, the CFIA will verify that the food industry and retailers are removing the recalled product from the market, "said Lisa Murphy in an email on Wednesday.

"The Canadian or US food safety investigation has not been able to identify a specific product of concern in the Canadian or US market. All products tested under the Canadian Food Safety Act are subject to review. investigation have been negative so far. "

But Warriner thinks a "cover" reminder – forcing all stores and restaurants to stop selling or serving romaine lettuce, regardless of their source – is warranted.

"It's the same playbook [as last year]. They seem to say, "We will not remember it, but we advise you not to eat it". Which, in my opinion, is a bad thing because it creates confusion. "

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb also stated that his agency did not have sufficient information to request a recall from suppliers, but said that supermarkets and restaurants should remove Roman products until That the contamination can be identified.

Major grocery chains in Canada, including Loblaw Companies Limited, Sobeys Inc. and Metro Inc., announced Wednesday that they were voluntarily withdrawing romaine lettuce from their stores across the country.

In a press release posted on its website, Loblaw also stated that its stores would provide "a full refund" if customers returned the products.

Most people with E. coli infections "recover fully," said the Public Health Agency of Canada. Those most at risk of developing complications are pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, young children and the elderly.

Complications can be life threatening, including kidney failure.

Some people may be infected with E. coli without symptoms but pass on the infection to others, the agency said.

Symptoms of E. coli include nausea, vomiting, headache, fever, severe stomach cramps, and watery or bloody diarrhea. People usually get better within five to ten days and there is no "real treatment" apart from staying hydrated.

Antibiotics should not be used in the treatment of bacterial E. coli O157 infections, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital.

"They can actually do more harm than good," Bogoch said. "If antibiotics are used with this type of infection, what can happen is that it can trigger a rather unpleasant cascade in the body that can lead to kidney failure and kidney damage."

E. coli bacteria are naturally found in the intestines of farm animals. Fruits and vegetables can be contaminated when they come into contact with animal droppings. Most forms of bacteria are harmless.

What people should do

Under normal circumstances, health officials often advise people to discard the outer leaves of romaine lettuce and wash the rest. But currently, with E. coli O157 around, people should not take any chances, Warriner said, advising them to get rid of their romaine lettuce. It only takes a small number of bacteria cells to cause disease, so handling contaminated lettuce can spread the infection, he said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise people to "wash and disinfect the drawers or shelves of refrigerators where the Roman is stored", consult with their health care provider and inform the health authorities. public health if they have symptoms of an E. coli infection.