Buzz
If you've been yearning for romaine lettuce, there’s some good and bad news coming your way. The bad news? Your salad preferences might need some work. The good news? The CDC confirms that romaine lettuce is safe to consume once more.
Since the holidays, we’ve been advised to check lettuce labels and steer clear of anything from the Salinas Valley in California. Romaine from that region was linked to an outbreak of E. coli, specifically the infamous O157:H7 strain, which can cause bloody diarrhea, intense stomach cramps, and vomiting. A total of 167 people were infected across 27 states, with 15 suffering from kidney failure, but thankfully no fatalities occurred.
To be fair, lettuce isn’t always dangerous, but it’s vulnerable to sporadic contamination. Lettuce in the U.S. often comes from one or two growing regions, which means outbreaks can affect the entire country simultaneously. Unlike many other foods, lettuce isn’t cooked, so harmful bacteria can survive and cause trouble in our digestive systems.
Feel free to indulge in those romaine-based salads, if that’s what you truly desire.
