Anyone who has been watching the news lately has probably heard about several recent recalls issued by the CDC due to food risks. One of these two was due to a salmonella-related outbreak linked to more than 200 million eggs linked to Rose Acre Farms in North Carolina. Still, there was also a strain of E. coli linked to romaine lettuce out of Yuma, Arizona that was also recalled.
Unfortunately, the CDC has released an update saying that the initial warnings may have been too cautious.
The original statement said that there had been 35 reported E. coli infections in 11 different states.
For anyone who didn’t see the original statement, the affected states were Idaho, New York, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, Connecticut and New Jersey. Since that announcement, the number of infected individuals has grown to 53 cases in 16 different states.
The additional locations include Alaska, California, Montana, Louisiana and Arizona.
As a result of these increased numbers and spread, the CDC and the FDA are now recommending a blanket ban on all romaine lettuce for the time being.
The FDA released a special update on their website about the case:
“On April 19, 2018, Alaska health partners announced that several people in a correctional facility are infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7. These individuals ate whole-head romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona. Based on this new information, the FDA is advising that consumers avoid all romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona. If you cannot determine the source of your romaine lettuce, throw it away and don’t eat it.”
Perhaps even more serious than the E. coli outbreak itself is what the food poisoning has resulted in in some extreme cases.
Of the 53 people who were infected, three are now being treated for hemolytic uremic syndrome, a rare complication which leads to kidney failure. As part of their investigation, the CDC interviewed people who had come in contact with E. coli poisoning as to what they had eaten leading up to their health issues. Of the 53 people, 43 confirmed that they had eaten romaine lettuce in the week leading up to their illnesses. Of all the people who became ill, at least 31 have been hospitalized.
Anyone who still has romaine lettuce in their home, mixed or not, has been advised to throw the food out and not to eat it.
If you think you or someone you know has ingested contaminated lettuce, it’s best to know the signs to watch out for. Some of the symptoms of infection can include stomach cramps, diarrhea (sometimes with blood) and vomiting. Any kinds of other pains, including kidney pains, are also reason to reach out to a doctor and get help. In addition to avoiding romaine lettuce in your own home, be sure to avoid it when eating out at restaurants as well.
So far, the rate of hospitalization for this outbreak seems to be more severe than usual.
Although normal E. coli outbreaks may have a hospitalization rate of about 30%, the rate so far seems to be around 58%. According to various reports, the CDC and the FDA are still investigating as to why this version of the outbreak seems to be more severe than usual. Above all, make sure to stay safe and to let your friends know about the updates in this information.
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