Last month, an E. Coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce occurred across the nation. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 120 people have gotten sick in 25 different states. NBC News reported that “at least 52 people have been hospitalized, including 14 with kidney failure, which is an unusually high number of hospitalizations.” Sadly, the first death caused by the E. coli contaminated lettuce was also reported last week in California.
The contaminated lettuce has been traced back to lettuce grown in Yuma, Arizona. Yuma, Arizona reportedly provides most of the romaine lettuce for the United States during the winter months. While their growing season ended at the beginning of April, and likely no one is eating the contaminated lettuce now, the number of cases could still rise as people recognize and report their illnesses as E. coli poisoning. Continue Reading