Lettuce Recalled Because of Suspected E. Coli Contamination

Here we go again with the continued fight against E coli. Yahoo.com has just published an Associated Press (AP) report filed by AP staff writer Mary Clare Jalonick stating that Freshway Foods of Sidney, OH is issuing a recall of their romaine lettuce products sold under the Freshway brand and Imperial Sysco brand. The reports states that according to Freshway Foods, the lettuce was sold to wholesalers, food service outlets, in-store salad bars and delis in Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The specific lettuce being recalled has a "Best if used by" date of May 12 or earlier. The report also noted that the recall affects "grab and go" salads sold at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets and Marsh grocery stores as well.

The contamination was discovered while authorities in Michigan, Ohio and New York were investigating a recent outbreak of E. coli in their states. During one of their tests, the New York state Public Health Laboratory discovered E. coli contamination in a previously unopened bag of Freshway Foods shredded romaine lettuce. The bag of lettuce came from a processing facility that was also linked to the previously reported cases of E. Coli. The AP report references the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the source of this information, but no other details were provided. However, the report added commentary from Donna Rosenbaum, director of the food safety advocacy group Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.) who revealed that the FDA briefed a few people via phone call that they were focusing the FDA investigation on lettuce grown in Arizona as a possible source for the outbreak.

The FDA also issued a notice regarding this matter and emphasized that Freshway Foods is voluntarily recalling the lettuce and they are cooperating fully to assist in identifying the cause of the contamination. The notice also stated that an FDA investigation of Freshway Foods' facilities in Sidney, OH did not uncover any contamination.

Although there have been no reported deaths from this most recent outbreak of E. coli, Ms. Jalonick's report does credit the outbreak with affecting at least 19 people, twelve of which had to be hospitalized. Of those twelve, three were reported to have had life-threatening symptoms. The report provides additional insight into the bacteria by noting that an E. coli infection can cause mild diarrhea or more severe complications, including kidney damage. The three patients with life-threatening symptoms were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can cause bleeding in the brain or kidneys. uhhh... no thank you!!!

The FDA and Freshway foods really want to get the message out to the public and suggest that any consumers who purchased romaine lettuce from an in-store salad bar or deli at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores in the states previously listed should toss it in the trash. They also want to make it known that bulk, prepackaged romaine or bagged salad mixes containing romaine that were purchased in supermarkets are NOT included in this particular recall as Freshway Foods does not produce those type of products.
Eat safe my friends!!!!