E. coli in romaine lettuce? CDC is investigating

Jan. 05--The Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating an E. coli outbreak possibly connected to romaine lettuce in 13 states including Michigan.

One case has been reported in Michigan and is among the 17 reported in other states. At least five people have been hospitalized in the U.S. and one person in California has died, the CDC says.

Canadian public health officials also reported illnesses in several eastern provinces and, according to a statement on their website, have identified romaine lettuce as the source.

The CDC, in an e-mail, said they are "collecting information to determine whether there is a food item in common among sick people, including leafy greens and romaine."

During an investigation, the CDC says they collect these three types of data: epidemiologic, traceback, and food and environmental testing and assess the data to find the source.

But in they say, that "there is not enough epidemiologic or traceback evidence at this time to indicate a specific source of illnesses in the United States," Brittany Behm, MPH, a CDC spokeswoman said in an email. "Therefore, CDC cannot recommend that U.S. residents avoid a particular food."

The CDC is looking at whether the U.S. illnesses are related to ones discovered in Canada. Their preliminary results, according to the CDC's statement, "show that the type of E. coli making people sick in both countries is closely related genetically, meaning the ill people are more likely to share a common source of infection."

When this type of E. coli, the Shiga toxin-producing identified as E. coli O157:H7, is consumed through contaminated food, individuals usually become sick within 1-3 days. Symptoms include diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramping. Elderly individuals and those with weakened immune are at greater risk of getting sick if infected with e. coli.

The food safety experts at Consumer Reports are advising consumers to avoid romaine all together and any products with romaine in them -- like salad blends and mixes -- until the cause is found, identified and removed from store shelves.

In a report two days ago at www.consumerreports.org they said:

"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," says James Rogers, Ph.D., director of Food Safety and Research at Consumer Reports.

According to Canada's public health web site, Individuals became sick in November and early December 2017. In Canada 17 individuals were hospitalized and one has died. Those who became sick reported eating romaine at home, in prepared salads from grocery stores, restaurants and fast food chains.

Robin Danto, MSU Exention educator for Oakland county says, the most important thing consumers can do is make sure that "all produce that comes into their house needs to be washed and washed well."

"Produce is grown in fields where there are animals that are doing their business all over, flying through, scampering through,and it needs to be washed and washed in potable water for at least 20 seconds," Danto said.

While washing and thoroughly rinsing wont rid contaminated food of E. coli, Danto says, it will help.

"Put it in a colander so the bad things are washed away from it."

If you suspect or are concerned you've contracted E. coli, contact your healthcare provider.

Contact Susan Selasky at 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.

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