There are no firm answers yet in the investigation of E. coli-caused illnesses linked to Salinas, Calf.-grown romaine lettuce.
The Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control, and state health officials say they are continuing to investigate an outbreak of illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7 in the U.S.
In a Dec, 19 update, the FDA reported that epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence indicates that romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region is the likely source of this outbreak.
The update said current traceback investigations have identified a common grower in Salinas.
“FDA, CDC, and California partners have deployed a team to conduct new investigations at several ranches used by this grower as we try to identify the source of the contamination,” the FDA said in the update.
The investigation, the update said, involves assessing and sampling soil, animal droppings, compost, water, and other potential environmental sources at the ranches of the grower. “The samples and information collected during the farm investigations will be analyzed,” the FDA said in the update.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recently reported that they identified the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in an unopened bag of Fresh Express brand Leafy Green Romaine collected from an ill person’s home.
“The source of the romaine identified in the bag was Salinas, California,” the update said. “It was determined that one of the growers of this product also supplied romaine linked to other E. coli outbreaks that FDA is investigating.”
The FDA said these outbreaks are each caused by strains that are different from each other and different from the larger outbreak. One of the additional outbreaks, in Washington state, is potentially linked to romaine lettuce. The other outbreak, with cases in the U.S. and Canada, is linked to Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits, the FDA said.
Message to consumers
The CDC reports there have been 138 cases reported in 25 states, with the latest date that one of these patients reported becoming ill was on Dec. 1.
In a recommendation to public, the FDA said consumers should not eat romaine lettuce harvested from Salinas, Calif., and consumers should not eat products identified in the recall announced by the USDA on Nov. 21.
The FDA again said that romaine lettuce that was harvested outside of the Salinas region has not been implicated in this outbreak investigation. In addition, the agency said hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine, which is voluntarily labeled as “indoor grown,” from any region does not appear to be related to the current outbreak.
Related articles
LGMA’s conducting review of food safety practices
Three E. coli outbreaks have a Salinas romaine grower in common
Fresh Express romaine in Wisconsin tests positive for E. coli
