Seriously, I’m getting tired of using this picture. But I’m not running out of opportunities.
The Washington State Department of Health said today that nine confirmed cases of E. coli infection found in Thurston and Pierce counties have been traced to romaine lettuce and a tenth case may be linked but was not tested.
Health Department spokesman Tim Church says five of the victims were hospitalized, but all have been released.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is tracing the source of the contaminated lettuce.
A table of known outbreaks of verotoxigenic E. coli — including but not limited to E. coli O157:H7 — associated with fresh spinach and lettuce is available at http://foodsafety.ksu.edu/en/article-details.php?a=3&c=32&sc=419&id=903.
UPDATE: The Department of Health says nine confirmed cases of E.coli infection found in north Thurston and south Pierce counties have been traced to bagged, commercial romaine lettuce.
Health officials say it’s not the same type of lettuce you would buy in a grocery store.