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Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak linked to canal water

As of June 27, 210 people in 36 states have become ill from the outbreak, and there have been 96 hospitalizations and five deaths.

By Crystal Lindell
Romaine Lettuce
The CDC is warning consumers against all types of romaine lettuce after an E. coli outbreak. Source: CDC.
June 29, 2018
The recent romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 illnesses have been linked to the canal water in the Yuma, Arizona region, according to the FDA and the CDC.
 
Specifically, CDC analysis of samples taken from canal water in the region has identified the presence of E. coli 0157:H7 with the same genetic finger print as the outbreak strain.

“We have identified additional strains of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli in water and soil samples, but at this time, the samples from the canal water are the only matches to the outbreak strain,” the FDA says.

As of June 27, the CDC reports that 210 people in 36 states have become ill. These people reported becoming ill in the time period of March 13, 2018 to June 6, 2018. And have been 96 hospitalizations and five deaths.

Samples have also been collected from environmental sources in the region, including water, soil, and cow manure, anda analysis of additional samples is still ongoing, and any new matches to the outbreak strain will be communicated publicly and with industry in the region.

Identification of the outbreak strain in the environment should prove valuable in our analysis of potential routes of contamination, and we are continuing our investigation in an effort to learn more about how the outbreak strain could have entered the water and ways that this water could have come into contact with and contaminated romaine lettuce in the region.

The traceback investigation indicates that the illnesses associated with this outbreak cannot be explained by a single grower, harvester, processor, or distributor. While traceback continues, the FDA will focus on trying to identify factors that contributed to contamination of romaine across multiple supply chains.  

The agency is examining all possibilities, including that contamination may have occurred at any point along the growing, harvesting, packaging, and distribution chain before reaching consumers.

The FDA says the current outbreak is not related to a recent multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections from November to December 2017 linked to leafy greens consumption. People in the previous outbreak were infected with a different DNA fingerprint of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

KEYWORDS: Produce recall

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Crystal lindell author photo
Crystal Lindell worked primarily at daily newspapers before joining BNP Media in 2010. While here she has worked on Candy Industry Magazine, Food Engineering Magazine and Food Safety Strategies. She holds a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois – Springfield and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University. And her favorite breakfast is a cup of espresso and Twix bar.

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