Government Warns to NOT Eat Romaine Lettuce

Consumers anywhere in the United States who have store-bought romaine at home, including salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce, should throw it away immediately according to federal health officials.

According to the  Washington Post, at least 16 states have had an  E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 60 people, including eight inmates at an Alaska prison. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention said Friday that new information about the illnesses in Alaska led them to expand a warning beyond chopped romaine to include any type of romaine lettuce, including whole heads and hearts of romaine. The inmates who became sick at the Anvil Mountain Correctional Center in Nome ate lettuce from whole heads of romaine grown in Yuma, Ariz., the CDC said.

No common grower, supplier, distributor or brand has yet been identified. Symptoms of infection include bad stomach cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Occasionally, more serious complications can occur, including kidney failure.

Officials also said consumers should throw away any lettuce if they’re unsure what kind it is. Consumers also should not buy or eat romaine lettuce at a grocery store or restaurant unless they can confirm it is not from the Yuma area.

Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract. But a small number, including the strain in this outbreak, produce a toxin called Shiga that can cause serious illness or death in people.

This strain has been responsible for many high-profile outbreaks. The bacteria live in the intestines of cows, pigs and other ruminants. Infections start when someone swallows a tiny amount of human or animal feces through a variety of ways, including contaminated food, consumption of unpasteurized (raw) milk, unclean water or contact with the feces of infected people.

Buy Local, Buy Fresh

The CDC is expecting the number of infected people to rise over the weekend and plan to have an updated count of E. Coli Outbreaks by next week.

Do not let the fear of E. Coli stop you from enjoying some of your favorite veggies. One way to avoid the E. Coli outbreak and all other food contamination outbreaks is to simply shop for local foods by supporting your local Farmers Market. Most farmers markets contain several varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables that were grown locally which makes them much safer to consume.

Source: Washington Post