Lettuce Sold in 23 States Recalled over E. Coli

Lettuce sold to retailers in 23 states and the District of Columbia has been recalled because of a possible link to 19 cases of E. coli.

Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio, announced on Thursday a recall of romaine lettuce after illnesses were reported in Michigan, Ohio and New York. The Food and Drug Administration said the illnesses included 12 people who have been hospitalized and three with potentially life-threatening symptoms.

The New York state Public Health Laboratory in Albany discovered the contamination in a bag of Freshway Foods shredded romaine lettuce on Wednesday, according to the FDA.

That bag of lettuce came from a processing facility that was also linked to the illnesses, the FDA said. The agency would not release the name of that facility or its location but said an investigation was under way.

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.

Freshway Foods said the lettuce was sold to wholesalers, food service outlets, in-store salad bars and delis in Alabama, Connecticut, 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 affected lettuce has a "best if used by" date of May 12 or earlier. The recall also affects "grab and go" salads sold at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets and Marsh grocery stores.

[pragmatist1]

We've got to look at the source of where the product is grown and processed and the level of staff hygiene. I don't trust produce handled by individuals who don't have much sense of hygiene and who work for companies that hire on the cheap.

[tsigili]

Here we go again. What is the deal with the food chain, and all this serious contamination? It is becoming commonplace, year in, year out.

[scoutsout80]

This is clearly George Bush's fault

[sjc_1]

When you reduce budgets for departments that are suppose to watch over this, this is what happens. Less government and lower taxes means business can cut corners and then we pay much more later on after the damage is done...not smart.

[notparicular]

We always see gloves at all restaurant counters and at all salad bars. But do the pickers wear gloves? They say the lettuce is washed. Have you ever noticed how long it takes to wash lettuce to your satisfaction? Do the pickers wash lettuce that carefully? I think I would broil lettuce from now on.

[nmfaxman]

Funny how when the price of something drops, there is always a problem somewhere that causes the price to go up.
Recall, explosions, floods, droughts, and what ever anyone else is not making massive profit.
Cynical maybe. Why is it someone always makes money after all these catastrophys?
There has always been a problem with drilling oil in the gulf.
Once it was OKd, there was a rig that explodes.
Sniff sniff, something fishy? Can't be the oil, must be something more slimy.
Must be Fat Cats that only care about themselves.

[stn_sage]

Mister, you 'hit the nail on the head'!

Because, often times, there's more money in it, for these companies, in disaster, than there is under normal circumstances, when everything is running well!

Point: there's more money to be had in problems, and creating them, than there is otherwise! At least, for the BIG concerns!

For small companies and sole proprietors, problems can spell disaster!
And their termination.

[kippertoo]

Pickers using their feces as fertilizer again?

[LIBERALS-are-HYPOCRITES-2]

Where does that salad come from and who picks it ?

[scoutsout80]

Illegals