Two Massachusetts E. Coli Illnesses Linked To Romaine Lettuce
The nationwide food poisoning outbreak linked to romaine lettuce has hit close to home. Two people in Massachusetts have been diagnosed with E. coli.
The news of two cases of E. coli in Massachusetts came just hours after news that the first person to die from the outbreak had happened in California.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the first romaine lettuce related illnesses began occurring around April 21, 2018.
Since then there have been 121 reported illnesses in 25 states with 52 hospitalizations, 14 of which have reported kidney failure.
That number is said to be unusually high for this type of outbreak and yet the CDC website says there have been no official recalls on any romaine lettuce to date.
There is also still no word on where the outbreak originated, although the CDC does say it is somewhere in the Yuma, Arizona growing area.
Consumers are warned not to purchase or consume any romaine lettuce if they are unsure of where it came from. That includes bagged lettuce, heads of lettuce and lettuce from restaurants.
No word on when the outbreak will be pinpointed and brought under control or on how many more illnesses may occur before that happens.
For now, your best bet it to buy locally grown romaine lettuce only. Or switch to iceberg!