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Clarifying The Romaine Lettuce Situation

We’re in the midst of another recall scare over tainted Romaine Lettuce, and it looks like the worst one yet. But the are some things to keep in mind – things that haven’t received a lot of media attention – that might make navigating the ‘crisis’ easier…

Romaine Harvest - © foodsafetyharvesting.comRomaine Lettuce is a huge business in the U.S. Southwest. Tens of thousands of
tonnes of the stuff will be wasted as a result of the latest E. coli scare…

I’ve been reading all I can about the latest E. coli outbreaks involving Romaine Lettuce. And I’ve noted with disappointment several facts on which the media are missing out, or missing the mark.

Origin of tainted Lettuce is significant…

Though we’ve heard nothing definitive about the origin of the E. coli infested Romaine, yet, I did glean one important fact from a Canadian Press story reported by the Post News papers. U.S. officials say the strain of E. coli involved in the latest outbreak is genetically similar to the one involved in the previous two scares. And the similar geographic pattern of reported cases of Romain-related illness is also very similar to that in previous outbreaks. All of which leads me to conclude that Romaine from Arizona and Texas growing areas, which was declared the cause of the previous outbreaks, is also at the the root of the present one.

I had already had a package of three Romaine Hearts, grown in California, in my fridge when the current E. coli alarm went out. Furthermore, I’d been eating it for several days before that. And no one in my house has become ill. But that’s just my personal experience and I’m not a doctor or a bacteriologist. However, I am, legitimately, something of a food expert. Draw your own conclusions…

Washing your Lettuce…

I’ve also noted the rash of media stories about ‘How To Wash Your Lettuce Properly’ in the wake of the latest Romaine/E. coli scare.

There’s nothing wrong with those reports though some go to unrealistic extremes about techniques – like wearing gloves so you don’t get E. coli from handling the unwashed leaves. I do agree, however, about giving your romaine (or any other Leaf Lettuce) a good wash under cold running water until all the visible dirt is rinsed away. That’s about all you can do, short of using some kind of detergent or disinfectant on your Greens, which poses as many issues as it solves.

Will washing really help?

I also recall reading, during the last big Romaine/E. coli scare, that washing your lettuce won’t make that great a difference in your E. Coli risk. That’s because the E.Coli is in the ground water and is taken up into the plants as they grow. That’s another fact that got very little media coverage during the last Romaine recall, and has enjoyed none that I’m aware of during the current one. But, again, I’m not a scientist or a physician. Just relying on common sense and what I read from credible sources.

My overall take…

I’m going to continue to eat my California-sourced Romaine without fear or trepidation. And I’m going to keep buying it – if it hasn’t been taken off the shelves – in spite of the warnings and recalls.

And what a shame it would be if ALL the Romaine in the food chain was recalled and trashed when only some of it was responsible for the current E. coli outbreak. We can’t afford to waste food!

~ Maggie J.