Outbreak of E. coli spurs warning to consumers on romaine lettuce

Recent problem leads some experts to advise against eating the salad greens for now

Step away from romaine. In sad news for those looking to make January a month of fresh greens, in response to the indulgence of the holidays, Consumer Reports is now advising consumers to avoid eating romaine lettuce after an E. coli outbreak has been linked to at least two deaths.

Over the past seven weeks, as Consumer Reports notes, 58 people in the U. S. and Canada have become ill from a dangerous strain of E. coli bacteria, likely from eating romaine lettuce. In the U. S., the infec- tions have occurred in 13 states including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and Washington state.

Five people in the U. S. have been hospitalized and one has died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There also has been one reported death in Canada.

Cooking is one way to kill foodborne bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella, but since lettuce is usually eaten raw that’s no help. Remember that romaine also may be lurking in bags of mixed greens.

“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 romaine lettuce is almost always consumed raw,” said James Rogers, Director of food safety and research at Consumer Reports.

It also should be noted that washing leaves thoroughly will not eliminate the problem as the bacteria can cling to nooks and crannies in the lettuce, Consumer Reports warns.

Those most at risk are the young, the elderly and those with impaired immune systems. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Some people may have a slight fever. In the worst- case scenario, exposure to E. coli can lead to kidney failure and death.

Very young children and the elderly are more likely to develop severe illness than others, but even healthy older children and young adults can become seriously ill, the CDC said.