Romaine Lettuce Unsafe to Eat in Any Form — CDC Alert

The statement was released in conjunction with a similar warning from the Center for Disease Control in the United States. Restaurants and retailers have been warned to not serve any form of romaine lettuce to customers.

In June, five people died and hundreds of people were infected across 35 U.S. states after a romaine lettuce-linked E. coli outbreak. One person in CT was reported by the FDA to have been made sick. The agency is conducting an investigation to trace the contaminated lettuce that made people sick to the bacteria's source.

The FDA also advises that consumers should not eat and discard romaine, or any mixed salads containing romaine until more information on the source of the contamination and the status of the outbreak can be determined. Thirteen were hospitalized, including one person who developed a type of kidney failure.

Illnesses started in October.

All restaurants were urged to not sell romaine lettuce, and consumers should act quickly if they feel they have symptoms of an E. coli infection.

Romaine Lettuce Unsafe to Eat in Any Form — CDC Alert

Most E. coli bacteria are not harmful, but some produce toxins that can cause severe illness.

The new warning includes all kinds of romaine lettuce, including whole heads, hearts, bags and boxes of pre-cut romaine, as well as salad mixes containing romaine.

This strain, E. coli O157:H7, resembles an outbreak among leafy green vegetables in fall 2017, the FDA reported.

Until it can identify which specific batches of lettuce are contaminated, the CDC has asked that consumers avoid "all types or uses of romaine lettuce". And after you do that, be sure to wash and sanitize the crisper drawer or fridge shelf the lettuce touched. Most people recover within five to seven days, though in some severe cases the illness can be life-threatening, according to the CDC's website.