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Lab-Confirmed E. coli Infections in Washington May Be Linked to Lettuce

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

The Washington State Department of Health announced today that there are 9 lab-confirmed cases of E. coli infection in Washington that may be linked to contaminated bagged, commercial romaine lettuce. All of the cases occurred in May.  Four of the cases were identified in Thurston County, and six in Pierce. Some of the people infected were hospitalized.

According to the epidemiological evidence gathered by the Washington Department of Health, the sickened people had eaten salad or lettuce at different places.  This means that contaminated lettuce was most likely contaminated before it was distributed to a number of eating establishments.  The people The FDA is working to trace the source of the lettuce.

Although E. coli outbreaks usually involve beef products, there have been 22 E. coli outbreaks linked to leafy greens since 1995. 

Bagged lettuce has often been the culprit.  Bagged lettuce is to produce what ground beef is to beef products. Mixing chopped lettuce from a number of heads together and then bagging makes it possible for one contaminated head of lettuce to reach a great number of consumers and make them sick.

Although processors triple-wash the lettuce leaves in chlorinated water, enough E. coli can remain on the leaves to make someone sick.

Because lettuce is eaten raw, the only way to prevent deadly E. coli outbreaks linked to lettuce is to irradiate the lettuce. According to a recent study, small doses of ionizing irradiation, a non-thermal technology, on lettuce can:

• Kill E. coli and other foodborne pathogens
• Improve the visual quality of lettuce
• Have no negative effect on texture
• Have no negative effect on vitamin C.

Certainly the benefits of irradiation outweigh any risks.  Eliminating E. coli on produce and other food products with irradiation would save lives and prevent the majority of cases of kidney failure (E. coli complication) in children in the United States.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on June 06, 2008 (boomark / email).