Romaine Lettuce Recalled Over E. Coli Fears

A single lot of romaine lettuce is being recalled because it may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, agricultural producer Tanimura & Antle Inc. announced Sunday.

The Tanimura & Antle Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine was packed in plastic bags with the UPC number 0-27918-20314-9 and a possible best-by date of Aug. 19.

The lettuce was available at retail locations from Aug. 2 through Sunday, according to the company. A total of 1,969 cases were shipped to grocery stores.

"Tanimura and Antle’s No. 1 priority is food safety, and in an overabundance of caution we are asking that if any of the above Romaine is in the possession of consumers, retailers or distributors, the product be disposed of and not consumed," the company said in the news release.

In the South Bay, Tanimura & Antle distributes its products at Costco, Ralphs, Vons and Pavilions, Trader Joe's, Sam's Club and Whole Foods, according to the company's website.

The E. coli contamination was discovered through the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's test of a single random sample, according to the company. No illnesses related to eating contaminated lettuce have been reported.

E. coli can cause diarrhea and bloody stools. Most people recover within a week; however, some people—mostly young children and the elderly—develop Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, which can lead to serious kidney damage or death.

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