Deadly Romaine Lettuce Outbreak Has Food Safety Experts Saying ‘Do Not Eat’
A deadly romaine lettuce outbreak is sweeping across the U.S. and Canada right now, and some food safety experts are encouraging people to avoid the leafy vegetable for the time being.
According to Consumer Reports, the outbreak has already infected 58 people in 13 states and Canada. Affected states include California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington state. The Centers for Disease Control reports that of those 58 sick, five were hospitalized and one person has died. Another death linked to romaine has been confirmed in Canada, according to Food Safety News.
While the FDA and CDC are still investigating, Canadian health authorities have identified romaine lettuce as the outbreak source, and E. Coli 0157:H7 as the pathogen in question. This bacteria can cause something known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which can lead to serious illnesses, kidney failure, and even death.
The CDC has genetically matched the E. Coli affecting people in the US to the bacteria responsible for the same outbreak in Canada. They have stopped short of recommending that people avoid romaine lettuce, however.
However, James Rogers, PhD. (Consumer Report’s food safety and research director) is favoring the side of caution on this one.
“Even though we can’t say with 100 percent certainty that romaine lettuce is the cause of the E. coli outbreak in the U.S., a greater degree of caution is appropriate given that romaine lettuce is almost always consumed raw.”
Nobody has identified a single source of the potentially contaminated lettuce yet, so Consumer Reports says that folks should assume that all romaine lettuce poses an E. Coli risk until everything is sorted out. Until then, they recommend avoiding romaine lettuce products, including any already in your fridges plus salad mixes that contain the leafy vegetable.
