U.S. lettuce E. coli outbreak spreads north, 6 Canadians ill

Thursday, May 10, 2018, 3:58 PM - Officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce as six Canadians have fallen ill with a similar genetic fingerprint to cases reported in the U.S.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, two of the six individuals who became sick reported travelling to the U.S. before falling ill.

"Three individuals became infected in Canada, and information is pending for the fourth individual," a Public Health Notice posted on Wednesday reads.

The outbreak of Escherichia coli 0157 is reportedly linked to romaine lettuce in U.S. Yuma growing regions.

Image courtesy: Karen and Brad Emerson-- Flickr

One person has died in California as a result of the outbreak, with nearly 150 cases of U.S. residents falling ill in 29 states.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the risk in the country is currently "low," adding that the romaine lettuce coming from the Yuma growing region is no longer being produced and distributed, so the exposure to the contaminated lettuce is limited. 

The agency is urging Canadians to be aware of this ongoing investigation.

"Canadians who are travelling to the U.S., or who shop for groceries across the border and purchase romaine lettuce in the U.S., are advised to follow the U.S. CDC's advice for U.S. consumers found on their website," the notice reads.

In Canada, one E. coli case has been reported in B.C., one in Alberta, two in Saskatchewan and two in Ontario. All six illnesses were reported between late March and mid-April. While no deaths have been reported, one Canadian was hospitalized.

Apart from the two Canadians who travelled to the U.S. before getting sick, the others fell ill after eating the lettuce at home, or in prepared salads purchased at grocery stores, restaurants and fast food chains.

"If it is determined that contaminated romaine lettuce is in the Canadian market, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will take the necessary steps to protect the public, including recalling the product as required," the notice highlights. "Currently, there are no Food Recall Warnings associated with this outbreak."

Pregnant woman, those with weakened immune systems, young children and older adults are especially at risk of developing serious complications due to E. coli, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from E. coli is to practice safe food handling. Here are some tips, courtesy of the Public Health Agency of Canada: 

• Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, before and after handling lettuce.
• Unwashed lettuce, including whole heads of lettuce sold in sealed bags, should be handled and washed using these steps:
• Discard outer leaves of fresh lettuce.
• Wash unpackaged lettuce under fresh, cool running water. There is no need to use anything other than water to wash lettuce. Washing it gently with water is as effective as using produce cleansers.
• Keep rinsing your lettuce until all of the dirt has been washed away.
• Don't soak lettuce in a sink full of water. It can become contaminated by bacteria in the sink.
• Store lettuce in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Discard when leaves become wilted or brown.
• Use warm water and soap to thoroughly wash all utensils, countertops, cutting boards and storage containers before and after handling lettuce to avoid cross-contamination.
• Ready-to-eat lettuce products sold in sealed packages and labelled as washed, pre-washed or triple washed do not need to be washed again. These products should also be refrigerated and used before the expiration date

SOURCE: Public Health Notice

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