Recalled lettuce may be the cause of a recent outbreak of E. coli, Columbus Public Healthofficials said on Thursday.
The lettuce, distributed by Freshway Foods, is being voluntarily recalled, CPH officials said ina news release.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said lettuce samples collected in New York tested positivefor the same type of bacterium serotype associated with an April outbreak of E. coli in Columbusand two other states, 10TV's Maureen Kocot reported.
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The samples have not yet been matched by DNA analysis, health officials said.
Columbus Public Health is asking any food service operations that received the recalledproducts to remove them immediately, Kocot reported.
Health departments in Columbus, Michigan, and New York are investigating recent E. coliinfections that have sickened people. They have been working to trace the source of the E.coli.
Freshway Foods is voluntarily recalling products containing romaine lettuce with a use bydate of May 12 or earlier because they have the potential to be contaminated with E. coli.
The products were sold under the Freshway brand and Imperial Sysco brand. This recall includesromaine lettuce products sold by Freshway Foods for food service outlets, wholesale, and in-storeretail salad bars and delis.
The recalled romaine products were also sold for distribution to in-store salad bars and delisfor Kroger and Giant Eagle stores. Kroger and Giant Eagle stores said they are removing allrecalled products, including lettuce used in the salad bar and pre-made salad kits, Kocotreported.
Freshway Foods does not produce bulk, prepackaged romaine or bagged salad mixes containingromaine for sale in supermarkets, and those products are not included in this recall.
Watch 10TV News HD and refresh 10TV.com for additional information.
More Information:
- Freshway Food Recall Hotline: 888-361-7106
- Freshway Foods Web site
Previous Stories:
May 3, 2010: InvestigatorsTrying To Determine Cause Of E. coli Outbreak
April 26, 2010: E.coliOutbreak Found In Columbus, Ann Arbor
