Consumer Reports Avoid Romaine Lettuce Again
People should stay away from romaine lettuce until U.Southward. and Canadian wellness officials get to the bottom of an outbreak of E. coli infections, Consumer Reports says.
The consumer advocacy group called on the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to do more to warn people virtually the outbreak, which at final count had made 58 people sick in the U.S. and Canada. One person has died.
The CDC last reported on the outbreak on December 28. It said 17 people were sick in xiii states, dating back to November. The Public Health Bureau of Canada has reported on 41 illnesses.
"The Public Wellness Agency of Canada has identified romaine lettuce equally the source of the outbreak in Canada," the CDC said in its Dec. 28 argument.
"In the United States, state and local public health officials are interviewing sick people to determine what they ate in the week before their illness started. CDC is still collecting data to make up one's mind whether there is a nutrient particular in common among sick people, including leafy greens and romaine," it added.
Related: FDA expands recall of foods with East. coli risk
"Considering we have not identified a source of the infections, CDC is unable to recommend whether U.S. residents should avoid a particular food."
Thorough cooking usually kills foodborne bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella, but lettuce is not normally cooked.
"Even though we can't say with 100 percent certainty that romaine lettuce is the cause of the East. coli outbreak in the U.Due south., a greater degree of circumspection is appropriate given that romaine lettuce is almost always consumed raw," said James Roger, food condom manager at Consumer Reports.
Consumers Matrimony'south Jean Halloran said people should become stronger warnings.
"The FDA should follow the lead of the Canadian authorities and immediately warn the public nigh this take a chance," she said.
Related: Peanut butter recalled after E. coli sickens 12
"The available information strongly suggest that romaine lettuce is the source of the U.Southward. outbreak. If so, and people aren't warned, more may get sick."
But the FDA said there just isn't enough data yet.
"Interviews of ill people oasis't identified a likely source for the US illnesses. At this time, we are still investigating, and when nosotros have data that consumers can apply – such as any foods to avert – we will share it immediately," the FDA said in a statement issued belatedly Thursday.
It can take weeks to track downward the source of a nutrient poisoning outbreak. Food is often shipped to central plants from various farms, where it is processed, mixed together, packaged, and redistributed.
"Whole genome sequencing is existence performed on samples of bacteria making people ill in the United States to give us data about whether these illnesses are related to the illnesses in Canada. Preliminary results show that the blazon of E. coli making people sick in both countries is closely related genetically, significant the ill people are more likely to share a common source of infection," the CDC said.
Related: General Mills Recalls Flour After E. Coli Outbreak
Consumer Reports said people should err on the side of circumspection and throw out romaine lettuce.
"Neither the U.S. nor Canadian health officials have provided data on where the romaine lettuce potentially involved in the illnesses was grown or candy, so for now, Consumer Reports says consumers should assume that any romaine lettuce, even when sold in numberless and packages, could mayhap be contaminated," it brash.
"Do non buy romaine lettuce and don't use any that you may have in your refrigerator until there is more information on the source of contamination. Consumers should also check salad blends and mixes, and avoid those that contain romaine."
"Because we have not identified a source of the infections, CDC is unable to recommend whether U.S. residents should avoid a detail food."
The United Fresh Produce Association said it'southward non articulate that throwing out romaine lettuce would do any good.
"Even if this outbreak is really confirmed to be caused by romaine lettuce, information technology'south important to recognize this is a highly perishable product with a limited usable shelf life and it's highly unlikely a specific afflicted lot would still be available for sale or in a home fridge with the last U.South. illness existence reported on December 8 and the last Canadian affliction reported December 12," it said in a joint statement with the Produce Marketing Association and other groups.
Due east. coli bacteria are only about everywhere and they are normally harmless residents of the digestive tract. But there are a few forms that tin can crusade diseases. The CDC estimates that most one in six Americans are made ill by foodborne illnesses every year — that'southward about 48 one thousand thousand people. About three,000 die.
The toxin produced past E. coli 0157 can cause severe stomach cramps, encarmine diarrhea and vomiting. The most unsafe event is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.
"Very young children and the elderly are more than likely to develop severe illness and HUS than others, simply even healthy older children and young adults tin can become seriously ill," the CDC said.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/stay-away-romaine-lettuce-consumer-reports-advises-n834581
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