FDA won’t reveal lettuce supplier implicated in outbreak of E. coli

Federal officials are not naming the supplier of lettuce traced to a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections even though they have identified it.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention are investigating the outbreak, which has sickened at least 75 people across 12 states. The FDA is not yet reporting what states are involved.

The FDA reports that a supplier that sold a mix of iceberg and romaine lettuce to a caterer, restaurants and a school has been identified, but the agency is not naming the supplier. Although the CDC is involved in the investigation, the agency has not yet added the situation to its outbreak list.

The FDA suggests that the reason the supplier is not being named is because all of the impacted lettuce should be off the market at this point. The agency has initiated an inspection of the supplier.

“FDA’s traceback investigation has identified an iceberg and romaine lettuce blend from a common supplier as the source of this outbreak; however, impacted product identified to date appears to be past shelf life and no longer on the market. FDA is continuing to work with the supplier to determine if any additional product could be impacted,” according to a statement from the agency.

There does not “appear” to be an ongoing risk to consumers, according to the FDA. The agency is not recommending that consumers avoid iceberg or romaine lettuce.

In mid-November, local officials reported an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections among students, parents and staff at a St. Louis County high school. There were 69 patients as of Nov. 15. The sick people had attended a school banquet held off campus that was catered by Andre’s Banquets and Catering. Additional sick people were identified. They had all attended events in the St. Louis area that were catered by the company.

St. Louis County officials announced earlier this month that they believed some of the sick people were part of a multistate outbreak that involved caterers and restaurants in other states. As of Dec. 3 the local health department reported 115 patients spread across seven states.

Neither the FDA nor CDC have reported on the St. Louis County outbreak. 

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