Public Health Notice – United States outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce with implications for Canadians

Food recalls

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S. CDC), the United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA), and the United States Food Safety and Inspection Service (U.S. FSIS) are investigating an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157, commonly called E. coli, that is linked to romaine lettuce coming from the Salinas, California growing region in the United States (U.S.). E. coli can cause a serious, life-threatening illness.

As a result of the U.S. outbreak investigation and its link to product on the Canadian market, the Public Health Agency of Canada is advising Canadians to follow the U.S. CDC’s public health advice, which advises consumers to not eat, and retailers and food service establishments to not sell or serve, any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S. Romaine lettuce harvested in Canada is not affected by this advice.

Affected products

The Public Health Agency of Canada is advising Canadians to follow the U.S. CDC’s public health advice, which advises consumers to not eat, and retailers and food service establishments to not sell or serve, any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S.

Romaine lettuce harvested in Canada is not affected by this advice.

Although an outbreak is not occurring in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has identified one Canadian illness with a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses reported in the U.S. investigation.

What should you do to protect your health

If you think you became sick from consuming a food product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S. in your home. If the products are in your home, do not consume them.

Be sure to check your home for all types of romaine lettuce such as:

  • Whole heads of romaine
  • Hearts of romaine
  • Bags and boxes of precut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad

If you have romaine lettuce at home:

  • If the packaging shows that it is from the Salinas, California  growing region in the U.S., don’t eat it. Throw it away.
  • If it isn’t labelled with a growing region, don’t eat it. Throw it away.
  • If you don’t know whether the lettuce is romaine or whether a salad mix contains romaine, don’t eat it. Throw it away. Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where romaine lettuce was stored.

If you buy romaine lettuce at a store:

  • If the packaging shows that it is from the Salinas, California  growing region in the U.S., don’t buy it.
  • If it is an unpackaged product, ask the retailer whether the romaine lettuce comes from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S.
  • If you can’t confirm that the romaine lettuce in stores is not from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S., don’t buy it.

Restaurants and retailers should check the label on bags or boxes of romaine lettuce, or ask their suppliers about the source of their romaine lettuce. Suppliers, distributors and others in the supply chain should not ship or sell romaine harvested in the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S.

Who is most at risk

E. coli O157 is more likely than other E. coli strains to cause severe illness. Pregnant women, those with weakened immune systems, young children and older adults are most at risk for developing serious complications.

Most people who become ill from an E. coli infection will recover completely on their own. However, some people may have a more serious illness that requires hospital care, or long-lasting health effects. In rare cases, some individuals may develop life-threatening symptoms, including stroke, kidney failure and seizures, which could result in death. It is possible for some people to be infected with the bacteria and to not get sick or show any symptoms, but to still be able to spread the infection to others.

Learn more

Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) Investigation