Just as thousands of Americans flood the produce aisle to kickstart healthy-eating New Year's resolutions, Consumer Reports has issued a warning to stay away from romaine lettuce. The popular salad base is believed to be linked to an E. coli outbreak that has left at least two dead and dozens more seriously ill in the U.S. and Canada.
In late December, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that the strain of E. coli that killed one Canadian and hospitalized at least 41 more was directly linked to romaine lettuce. Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did confirm that dozens of Americans across the country have fallen ill due to E. coli and that they are currently investigating the outbreak, the CDC has yet to implement a similar ban on romaine. Food-safety experts at Consumer Reports, however, did so this week. "Even though we can't say with 100 percent certainty that romaine lettuce is the cause of the E. coli outbreak in the U.S., a greater degree of caution is appropriate given that lettuce is almost always consumed raw," James Rogers, director of food safety and research at Consumer Reports, said in a statement.
According to Consumer Reports, this particular strain of E. coli contains a toxin that can cause serious illness, kidney failure, and death. Young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems due to other illnesses and conditions are especially susceptible to the E. coli infection; the organization recommends that these groups take extra special care to avoid romaine lettuce. That said, anyone can be infected by E. coli. Symptoms include stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, and, for some people, a slight fever, and symptoms can start anywhere from 24 hours to 10 days after consuming the tainted food. The CDC recommends that you see a doctor if you have any severe symptoms or if diarrhea lasts longer than three days.
The CDC has reportedly confirmed that the strain of E. coli discovered in the U.S. is "genetically similar" to the one found in Canada but is still hesitant to link it unequivocally to romaine. "Although some sick people reported eating romaine lettuce, preliminary data available at this time shows they were not more likely than healthy people to have eaten romaine, based on a CDC food consumption survey," Brittany Behm, a CDC spokesperson, told Consumer Reports.
Whether or not romaine is the source of this E. coli strain, it certainly can't hurt to fill your salad bowl with other greens until the cause of the outbreak has been uncovered and eradicated.
