CDC said the contaminated lettuce was sourced from the Yuma, Arizona region, and that unless you can confirm where your lettuce came from, discard it immediately or return it to the place of purchase for a recall.
“Unless the source of the product is known, consumers anywhere in the United States who have any store-bought romaine lettuce at home should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick,” the agency said a CDC press release issued on April 13. “This includes whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce.”
At least 53 people in 16 states have been sickened with E. coli infection from romaine lettuce, according to the CDC. Of these,
- 31 people have been hospitalized
- 5 people have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)
- No deaths have been reported
Escherichia coli (abbreviated as E. coli) are a large group of bacteria found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals, according to the CDC. Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick.
Signs and symptoms of E. coli infection include:
- Diarrhea (may be bloody)
- Abdominal cramping
- Pain / tenderness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
The investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide updates when more information is available.
Source: FOX31 Denver