The CDC is warning of a new E. coli outbreak in romaine lettuce, just in time for Thanksgiving.
Just in time for Thanksgiving, the federal government has issued a warning that romaine lettuce may not be safe to eat.
In a food safety alert on Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it is investigating a multi-state outbreak of E. coli. linked to romaine lettuce.
“CDC is advising that U.S. consumers not eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any, until we learn more about the outbreak,” the alert read. “This investigation is ongoing and the advice will be updated as more information is available.”
As of Monday, 32 cases of people being infected with E. coli have been reported in 11 states, including three cases in New Jersey. Officials have not said where the lettuce was purchased or where it was grown
Of those cases, 13 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The reported infections started on dates ranging from Oct. 8 to Oct. 31.
Besides the three cases in New Jersey, the following states have also reported E. coli cases linked to the new outbreak:
- California, 10 cases
- Michigan, seven cases
- Illinois, two cases
- Massachusetts, two cases
- New Hampshire, two cases
- New York, two cases
- Connecticut, one case
- Maryland, one case
- Ohio, one case
- Wisconsin, one case
The outbreak appears to affect Canada as well. The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified 18 cases of infection from the same bacteria as the American cases. The Canadian cases are in two provinces, Ontario and Quebec.
This animal, and its poop, is being blamed for a massive romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak
According to the CDC, this new outbreak appears to be unrelated to the romaine lettuce-linked E. coli outbreak that infected 210 people, killing five, in 36 states this summer.
The E. coli strain at the heart of the new outbreak is E. coli O157:H7. The bacteria produces the Shiga toxin. People infected by the bacteria may get a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
