CDC issues Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce
The State of Iowa Department of Education – Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services, in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), has released information regarding a recent E. coli outbreak linked to chopped romaine lettuce.
Information collected to date indicates that chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and could make people sick.
At this time, no common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified. The Johnston Community School District receives lettuce from Loffredo Fresh Produce (Des Moines, IA), who has stated they do not have romaine mixes from the Yuma, AZ area and only have romaine based mixes out of Mexico.
The CDC has recommended these steps for consumers.
- Consumers anywhere in the United States who have store-bought chopped romaine lettuce at home, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.
- Before purchasing romaine lettuce at a grocery store or eating it at a restaurant, consumers should confirm with the store or restaurant that it is not chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. If you cannot confirm the source of the romaine lettuce, do not buy it or eat it.
For complete information on the CDC notification, visit https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html.