How long will uncertainty continue related to the E. coli and romaine investigation? Day upon day it continues.
While we wait, here are a few numbers related to the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from Yuma. The Centers for Disease Control first warned the public about chopped romaine from Yuma on April 13.
Google Trends, past 30 days in the U.S.: Fastest rising searches related to romaine:
- romaine recall 2018 brands
- recall romaine lettuce 2018
- romaine lettuce recall brands
- romaine lettuce outbreak
- e coli outbreak romaine lettuce
Of course, another big Google search continues to be “is it safe to eat romaine yet?”
Google Trends, past 30 days in the U.S.: E. coli -romaine search intensity: Peak search intensity (100) was April 21, which dropped to 45 by April 28 and 21 by May 6.
The romaine- E. coli story is losing some of its hold on the public, but what does that mean? Are shoppers buying lettuce again? Based on shipping point prices, demand seems to be subdued.
Romaine f.o.b. prices, per cartons of 24 heads from California’s Salinas/Watsonville
April 14 $17.45-$21.56
April 21 $14.45-$20.65
April 28 $10.45-$18.75
May 5 $6.45 - 12.65
On May 8 a year ago, the average f.o.b. was $8 to $13.55 per carton for romaine 24s in Salinas/Watsonville.
On the other hand, USDA reports that shipments of romaine lettuce in the past month or so are actually up compared with year-ago levels. Total Arizona and California romaine shipments from April 2 to May 7 this year were 5.533 million 40-pound cartons, up 10% from 5.043 million cartons from April 3 to May 5 last year.
Supermarket retail promotions of romaine lettuce are fairly quiet. From the USDA’s retail report, supermarket promotion of heads of romaine lettuce over the last several weeks were:
- March 16, promoted in 1,101 stores at an average price of $1.29 each;
- March 23, promoted in 316 stores at an average price of 94 cents each;
- March 30, promoted at 83 stores at an average price of $1.09 each;
- April 6, promoted at 460 stores at an average price of $1.49 each;
- April 13, promoted at 113 stores at an average price of $1.34 each;
- April 20, promoted at 400 stores at an average price of 93 cents each;
- April 27, promoted at 21 stores at an average price of $1.72 each; and
- May 4, promoted at 225 stores at an average price of $1.47 each.
Here is some of the latest coverage from the web on romaine and E. coli
From the New York Times: Romaine Riddle: Why the E. Coli Outbreak Eludes Food Investigators
From The Packer: More illnesses with later onset dates linked to romaine outbreak
From NPR: Dozens Of Victims Are Still Coping With The E. Coli Outbreak In Romaine Lettuce
On Twitter’s lighter side, I saw one post about how some are eating as much romaine as they can to get out of work. haha.
Here are some other tweets:
@dougboneparth May 7 : My wife is hilarious. Due to recent E. Coli outbreak on #Romaine lettuce, she’s been a bit concerned regarding its consumption....yet she just told me she ate it twice this week and twice last week. So, I give you this --> #accidentlyromaine
@AstroCatMusic May 8: Is it safe to eat #romaine again or what? My sandwiches are sad and I’m waiting to open this bag of leafy green romaine salad goodness till they say it’s ok to eat leafs again...
Romaine and E. coli. Unfortunately for all, a painful saga that will be continued.
