Lettuce Recall in 23 States and D.C.

Warning to consumers:  If you have any Freshway or Imperial Sysco shredded romaine lettuce dated May 12 or earlier, discard it immediately. It could cause serious illness.

An E.coli 0145 outbreak, which substantial evidence has linked to contaminated lettuce, has sickened at least 19 people in Ohio, New York, and Michigan.  An E.coli infection can cause mild diarrhea or more serious illness.  Of those who became ill, 12 were hospitalized, 3 of them with a life-threatening syndrome that involving bleeding in the brain or kidneys.  The CDC is investigating 10 more cases probably linked to the same outbreak.

College students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ohio State in Columbus, and Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y. were among those affected. 

Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio is recalling romaine lettuce that it sold in 23 states and the District of Columbia. The New York state Public Health Laboratory in Albany found E.coli contamination in a bag of the company’s shredded lettuce on May 6. The recalled lettuce has a “best if used by” date of May 12 or earlier. It was sold to wholesalers and food service outlets for distribution in in-store retail salad bars and delis. 

The recall also involves Freshway Foods “grab and go” salads sold at the following grocery stores: Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh.

No other brands of romaine lettuce are involved in this recall. The tainted lettuce does not include the bulk or packaged romaine products typically seen in the supermarket produce department.

The recalled lettuce was sold in Washington, D.C. and the following states: 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 0145 strain of E.coli found in the lettuce is less common than 0157.  It is also more difficult to identify and more likely to go unreported.  The FDA is investigating lettuce grown in Arizona as the possible source.

For more information, call Freshway Foods’ information desk at 1-888-361-7106 weekdays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern time or visit the company website at http://www.freshwayfoods.com/. 

For the list of recalled products, click here:
http://www.freshwayfoods.com/recall/docs/20100507_ProductList.pdf

Owners of restaurants, in-store salad bars, in-store delis and other food service outlets who have questions about this recall may call their Freshway representative or visit the Freshway website for updates, including disposition of recalled products. 

Source(s):

FDA.gov “Freshway Foods Voluntarily Recalls Products Containing Romaine Lettuce Because of Possible Health Risk”
http://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls/ucm211131.htm

CNN News, May 7, 2010

Chicago Tribune, May 7, 2010

Philly.com “Lettuce recalled in 23 states: E.coli suspected”
http://topics.philly.com/topic/Food_and_Drug_Administration

The Philadelphia Inquirer “E.coli fears spur recall of lettuce”
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/93050179.html#axzz0nw7SHUOB

Freshway Foods “Recall”
http://www.freshwayfoods.com/recall/

Link(s):

The Philadelphia Inquirer “E.coli fears spur recall of lettuce”
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/93050179.html#axzz0nw7SHUOB

Freshway Foods “Recall”
http://www.freshwayfoods.com/recall/