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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Sat Apr 14, 2018, 01:49 PM Apr 2018

E. coli outbreak in 11 states linked to store-bought chopped romaine lettuce, CDC says

Source: The Washington Post



By Kristine Phillips April 14 at 12:54 PM

An E. coli outbreak that has sickened nearly three dozen people in at least 11 states is linked to chopped romaine lettuce from Arizona, health officials said. The Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that romaine lettuce grown in the Yuma, Ariz., region, near the border to Southern California, may have caused the recent outbreak of Escherichia coli. The agency said it has not identified specific farms or companies that grew, supplied and distributed the contaminated vegetables.

None of the 35 people who have become sick since the outbreak began last month have died. But 22, including three people suffering from kidney failure, have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health officials said these people became ill between March 22 and March 31; the majority of them reported that they ate romaine lettuce within a week before they became sick. Many said they ate salads with romaine lettuce at restaurants, and these businesses told health officials that they used store-bought chopped romaine lettuce.

The highest number of illness was reported in Idaho and Pennsylvania, with eight and nine cases, respectively. Seven were reported ill in New Jersey. The others were in Washington state, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Virginia and Connecticut.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2018/04/14/e-coli-outbreak-in-11-states-linked-to-store-bought-chopped-romaine-lettuce-cdc-says/

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procon

(15,805 posts)
3. Yikes! I buy chopped lettuce all the time.
Sat Apr 14, 2018, 02:19 PM
Apr 2018

Calif isn't listed, so that's a break for now. We eat a lot of salads and I usually buy all the fixings and chop everything myself, but sometimes I just want the quick convenience of those bagged salad mixes. I would be really peeved to give that up.

Is it 'too soon' to demand stronger regulations that ensure consumer safety? Of course, I'd include the obligatory 'thoughts and prayers' to any corporations that suffered a reduced profit margin on account of safeguarding my health.

Major Nikon

(36,814 posts)
5. It happens also with unprocessed leafy greens
Sat Apr 14, 2018, 03:57 PM
Apr 2018

There's a pathogen risk that goes along with eating pretty much anything that's uncooked, and to a lesser degree things that are cooked. When you get symptoms like stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or maybe a slight fever, chances are you picked up some kind of pathogen somewhere and it's pretty difficult to go through life without doing so no matter how careful you are. If you are a reasonably healthy adult, there's virtually no risk of serious illness. The very small minority of people who get seriously ill from these types of outbreaks are mostly the very young, elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Personally I'm going to continue eating processed and unprocessed leafy greens without any more worry than I had before. There's a greater risk to your health in avoiding those types of food as they do a lot of good for you. The most likely source of pathogen food contamination is right in your own kitchen. The best way to reduce your own risk is to learn proper food handling and storage techniques.

suffragette

(12,232 posts)
4. Hmm, remember when Canada blamed romaine for E. coli in Jan and Feb this year? IIRC, CDC
Sat Apr 14, 2018, 03:37 PM
Apr 2018

did not identify a source then while Canada Health did.

Not seeing linkage being reported between these, but looks like this may have been going on (even if off and on) since last November or so so.

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/10141954295

Edited to add link

C Moon

(12,188 posts)
8. Yes. I followed that for a couple months before it faded away. I wouldn't eat romaine at that time.
Sat Apr 14, 2018, 07:22 PM
Apr 2018

FailureToCommunicate

(13,989 posts)
7. As Cezar Chavez used to slyly say: giving crop workers decent working conditions helps...
Sat Apr 14, 2018, 04:44 PM
Apr 2018

you, know, everybody.


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