Romaine Lettuce From a California Vegetable Growing Region Was the Focus of a CDC Food Safety Alert

Just a week before the start of the Thanksgiving holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Food Safety Alert advising retailers not to sell and consumers not to eat any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region until authorities had more information.

According to the agency, this included all types of romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas area, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and packages of precut lettuce and salad mixes which contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix and Caesar salad. The CDC notification occurred after the agency and other public health and regulatory officials in several states, along with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), began investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to romaine lettuce from the region.

As of the CDC’s most recent alert update from last month, there have been at least 138 reported cases of infection in 25 states that required 72 people to be hospitalized. Thirteen of those people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.

“The day before the initial Food Safety Alert was issued, a food company announced the recall of over 75,000 pounds of salad products that were shipped to distribution centers in 22 states due to E. coli O157:H7 concerns,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Fortunately, there were no deaths reported at the time of the recall notice due to HUS or other complications. While anyone could be at risk of becoming ill due to E. coli, children younger than 5 years of age, adults aged 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of infection.”

LA Testing is leading provider of food testing services. With multiple facilities in California, LA Testing provides comprehensive food testing for E. coli and a wide range of microbial pathogens, as well as testing for pesticides, herbicides and other potential contaminants.

To learn more about microbial or chemical testing of raw ingredients, processed foods and all types of beverages, please visit www.LATesting.com or www.FoodTestingLab.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794.


About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.

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