CDC: Romaine Lettuce Is Finally E. Coli Free, Safe To Eat

ARIZONA — Salad lovers, rejoice — after a monthslong E.coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce grown in Salinas, California, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday that the outbreak appears to be over and romaine once again is safe to eat.

A total of 167 people from 27 states were sickened with E. coli after eating contaminated romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas Valley, resulting in 85 hospitalizations nationwide. Product from the region is no longer available for sale, the CDC reported, subsequently ending the advisory urging people to avoid eating romaine lettuce.

Of the total reported cases, 4 cases of E. coli sickness were reported in Arizona, according to the CDC. Wisconsin had the most reported cases at 35, followed by Pennsylvania with 21 reported cases.

E. coli-related illnesses linked to romaine lettuce were reported between Sept. 20 and Dec. 21, and the outbreak affected people ranging in age from younger than 1 to 89. Nearly two-thirds of those impacted were female.

In all, 15 people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths were reported.

This year's warning was almost identical to a romaine lettuce warning in 2018. The CDC advised "consumers not eat and retailers not sell any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California, growing region."

The agency's advice was intended for all types of lettuce products: whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, packages of pre-cut lettuce, salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix and Caesar salad.

The CDC still advises consumers to follow these steps to help keep them healthy and make their fruits and vegetables safer to eat.