12-12-19 romaine lettuce e.coli outbreak update

As part of the ongoing investigation into the multistate outbreak of E. coli infections, Wisconsin health and food safety officials have found E. coli  bacteria in an unopened bag of pre-washed chopped romaine collected from an ill person’s home. Additional laboratory testing is pending to determine if the E. coli found in the pre-washed chopped romaine matches the strain causing the multi-state outbreak linked to romaine lettuce.  Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says if you see Romaine lettuce in the grocery store from the Salinas Valley in California don’t buy it and if you have it throw it away.  “The bacteria that is getting people sick is linked to Romaine lettuce.  How they are growing it, what they are putting in the soil, potentially the water, they don’t know that piece of that yet,”  Mueller told WFDL news.  “They do know it is linked with the Romaine lettuce, they just can’t find that culprit yet.”  There have been 33 reported cases of E.coli infections in Wisconsin, none in Fond du Lac County linked to Romaine lettuce.  The  bacteria was found in a bag of chopped Fresh Express® brand Leafy Green Romaine lettuce with a use by date of 11/14/2019 and lot code of Z301 A05B. The source of the romaine identified on the packaging was Salinas Valley, California.

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