Nov. 27, 2019—The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising people not to eat romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, CA, region. This includes whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, bags and boxes of precut lettuce, and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix and Caesar salad.
Forty people from 16 states have been reported ill with E. coli O157:H7. Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Most romaine lettuce products are labeled with a harvest location, either on the packaging or on a sticker. If romaine is unlabeled, CDC says not to buy it. Throw away any unlabeled romaine you have.
Symptoms of food poisoning from this bacteria include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people start feeling sick three to four days after eating contaminated food and get better within five to seven days. But some infections can be severe and even life-threatening.
You can find more information, including updates on the outbreak, on CDC's website.