E. coli outbreak update 5/16/18: The last romaine lettuce shipments from the Yuma growing region were harvested on April 16 and are now past their 21-day shelf life. The romaine lettuce being sold and served in stores and restaurants today is NOT the romaine linked to the current E. coli outbreak.
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html
The CT Department of Public Health has released another UPDATED Advisory regarding the multi-state E.coli 0157 outbreak associated with romaine lettuce. Read the 5/10/18 update here
Download the CT Department of Public Health UPDATED 4/20/18 Advisory here
Based on new information obtained during the investigation of the multi-state E.coli O157 outbreak
associated with romaine lettuce, CDC has expanded their consumer advice to include whole heads
and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing
romaine, from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. See page 2 for CDC’s specific advice.
Local health departments are advised to share this updated information with food establishments to
inform them of CDC’s updated advice not to serve romaine lettuce unless they are sure it did not
originate from the Yuma, Arizona growing area.
The investigation is ongoing and the number of cases have increase, however the number of
Connecticut cases remains at 2.
More specific information will be provided when it becomes available. Inquiries from consumers who
believe they may be ill from consuming romaine lettuce should contact their medical provider.
Additional Information
FDA: https://www.fda.gov/food/recallsoutbreaksemergencies/outbreaks/ucm604254.htm
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/index.html
From the CDC website 4/20/18
What’s New?
- Based on new information, CDC is expanding its warning to consumers to cover all types of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. This warning now includes whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine and salads and salad mixes containing romaine.
- Do not buy or eat romaine lettuce at a grocery store or restaurant unless you can confirm it is not from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region.
- 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. Product labels often do not identify growing regions; so, throw out any romaine lettuce if you’re uncertain about where it was grown. This includes whole heads and hearts of romaine, chopped romaine, and salads and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.
- Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.
- The expanded warning is based on information from newly reported illnesses in Alaska. Ill people in Alaska reported eating lettuce from whole heads of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.