According to the Associated Press “the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that 12 people had been hospitalized and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was looking at 10 other cases probably linked to the outbreak. Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio, said it was recalling romaine lettuce sold under the Freshway and Imperial Sysco brands.”
The FDA is currently investigating the E. Coli outbreak, which seems to be focused on lettuce grown in Arizona as a possible source. According to some sources, the lettuce causing the outbreak was not packaged in bags to be sold directly to consumers, but instead is lettuce used at supermarket and restaurant salad bars.
Freshway, one of the companies involved, has stated that “consumers who purchased romaine from in-store salad bars and delis at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores in the states listed below should throw the product away.” The date being referenced is for romaine lettuce that has a use-by-date of May 12th or earlier.
The states affected are 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.
Symptoms of E. Coli can be as mild as diarrhea, to more severe complications, including kidney damage. If you think you have been exposed to E. Coli, it is recommended you go see your doctor immediately.