The Department of Health is aware of the large scale E. coli outbreak in the US and Canada associated with romaine lettuce. Authorities there are trying to control a series of outbreaks.
Locally, Environmental Health will be contacting food suppliers to follow up. The warning does not apply to locally grown romaine lettuce.
At this time there have not been reports locally to the Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit. Surveillance will be able to confirm the source as food histories are taken of all reported confirmed gastroenteritis, including E. coli.
The following advisory pertains to imported romaine lettuce.
The public is advised to visit: https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm626330.htm#recalls
The FDA advises that consumers should not eat and discard romaine, or any mixed salads containing romaine, until more information on the source of the contamination and the status of the outbreak can be determined.
What Do Restaurants and Retailers Need To Do?
Retailers, restaurants, and other food service operators should not serve romaine lettuce until more is known about this outbreak.
What Do Consumers Need To Do?
The FDA advises that consumers should not eat and discard romaine, or any mixed salads containing romaine, until more information on the source of the contamination and the status of the outbreak can be determined.
