Wegmans says its romaine lettuce is safe to eat following a public health warning from the Centers for Disease Control and

Wegmans says its romaine lettuce is safe to eat following a public health warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after an E. coli outbreak linked to the vegetable spread to at least 16 states and sickened at least 60 people.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that consumers should avoid all types of romaine lettuce from southwest Arizonabecause of the outbreak. An initial advisory issued April 13 said only to avoid chopped romaine lettuce.

Wegmans, in a notice posted on its website, said after the initial advisory from CDC and the Food and Drug Administration was issued not to eat chopped romaine lettuce sourced from Yuma, Ariz., the grocer "immediately removed all chopped romaine lettuce, sourced from Yuma, from our Produce and Prepared Foods departments" following the warning.

"We have now received new shipments of these products, with chopped romaine that was not sourced from Yuma," Wegmans said.

"The products you see today are safe to consume," Wegmans said.

Wegmans stores have also posted signs indicating that all of the chopped, whole and romaine hearts being sold in its stores come from growing areas other than Yuma.

Wegmans pulled products that contained chopped romaine lettuce from its shelves on April 13. When romaine lettuce was restocked on April 15, it was not from Yuma, Ariz.

Consumers who may still have chopped romaine lettuce in products purchased before April 14, should throw it out.

Although the exact source hasn't been identified, federal health officials have said information indicates that the contaminated lettuce was grown in the Yuma, Ariz., area. But consumers anywhere in the United States who have store-bought romaine at home, including in salads and salad mixes, should throw it away immediately if they don't know its specific source, officials said - even if some had already been eaten with no ill effects, reported the Washington Post.

Of the people who have been sickened, at least 31 have been hospitalized, including five who developed a type of potentially life-threatening kidney failure known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. No deaths have been reported, according to the Post.

The CDC said Friday new information about illness at an Alaska prison prompted it to expand its warning. Eight people at the prison reported feeling ill after eating from whole heads of romaine lettuce that were linked to the Yuma region, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of E. coli infection include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting.

To avoid E.coli infection, the CDC recommends:

Wash your hands. Wash hands after using the restroom or changing diapers, before and after preparing or eating food, and after contact with animals.

Don't prepare food or drink for others when you are sick.

Cook meats thoroughly to kill harmful germs. Cook steaks and roasts to at least 145°F and let rest for 3 minutes after you remove meat from the grill or stove. Cook ground beef and pork to at least 160°F. Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of the meat.

Don't cross-contaminate food preparation areas. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.

Wash fruits and vegetables before eating, unless the package says the contents have been washed.

Avoid raw milk, other unpasteurized dairy products, and unpasteurized juices.