Over the past weekend, Dole announced a recall on its romaine lettuce due to potential E. coli contamination. If you’re feeling a little déjà vu, you’re not alone—this news comes less than two weeks after a similar romaine lettuce recall involving E. coli.
The company issued a voluntary recall on two romaine lettuce products, Dole Organic Romaine Hearts 3-Pack and Wild Harvest Organic Romaine Hearts, after a random sample tested by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development found E. coli on the produce.
The recalled produce affects stores in 15 states: Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Virginia. Because the “harvested on” dates are between October 23 and October 26, 2020, it’s unlikely that any affected produce is still on grocery store shelves. But be sure to check your crisper drawers to make sure none of your lettuce is affected. You can find a full list of UPC codes and product descriptions in the recall announcement here.
According to Dole’s recall announcement, there haven’t been any illnesses related to the recall. And this recall “is not associated with the strains connected to the ongoing outbreaks currently under regulatory investigation.”
Most types of E. coli don’t cause illnesses. But this recall specifically involves a non-O157 E. coli, which refers to a group of E. coli strains that are less commonly identified as the source of an outbreak than E. coli O157. An infection with this type of E. coli may cause symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For most people, the infection will go away after a few days. But vulnerable groups (including the elderly and young children) may experience more severe symptoms, as SELF explained previously.
If you feel like you may be experiencing symptoms of an E. coli infection, talk with your doctor and consider reporting it to your local public health department to help them track the outbreak.
Romaine lettuce has had quite the reputation in recent years, especially after a major 2018 E. coli outbreak from lettuce producers in Arizona and California that led to hundreds of infections, some leading to hospitalization and even a few deaths. So it’s important to take outbreaks like these seriously.
Related:
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There’s a Romaine Lettuce Recall in 20 States Due to Possible E. Coli Contamination
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