E-Coli Tainted Lettuce Likely No Longer In CA Stores: CDC

CALIFORNIA – Lettuce potentially contaminated with e-coli is likely no longer in California stores or restaurants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In April, the CDC warned consumers to throw out all types of romaine lettuce due to a multi-state e-coli outbreak that infected more than 150 people in 32 states and was blamed for at least one death in California.

The last shipments of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region were harvested on April 16 and the harvest season is over, according to the CDC. The CDC said it is unlikely that any romaine lettuce from the region is still in stores or restaurants given its 21-day shelf life.

The CDC warned consumers in April to throw out all types of romaine lettuce unless they could confirm that the lettuce did not come from the Yuma growing region. The warning included whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine, salads and salad mixes containing romaine.

A total of 172 people were infected and one death was reported in California, according to the CDC. At least 75 people were hospitalized in the outbreak and 20 of them developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

The investigation is ongoing.

You can find more information about the outbreak here.

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• Throw Out All Types Of Romaine Lettuce, CDC Warns CA Consumers
• Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreak Kills 1 Californian

Feroze Dhanoa, Patch National Staff contributed to this report.

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