Throw Away All Your Romaine Lettuce, CDC Warns U.S. Consumers

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romaine lettuce e coli outbreak – lettuce closeup

Oh my… another massive recall!

According to the CDC, due to an E. coli outbreak, consumers with any type of romaine lettuce in their home (or who plan to eat salads from outside of the home) should not eat it and should throw away any in the home immediatelyeven if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick.

This advice includes all types or uses of romaine lettuce, including:
  • whole heads of romaine
  • hearts of romaine
  • bags and boxes of precut lettuce
  • salad mixes that contain romaine
  • baby romaine
  • spring mix
  • Caesar salad

If you don’t know if the lettuce is romaine or whether a salad mix contains romaine, don’t eat it and throw it out.

Wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators where romaine was stored. Follow these five steps to clean your refrigerator.

Although there have not been any reported deaths, 32 people infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coliO157:H7 have been reported from 11 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 8, 2018, to October 31, 2018. Thirteen people were hospitalized, including one person who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure.


An all romaine lettuce e coli recall warning is in effect.

Because the FDA and states are working to trace back romaine lettuce that ill people ate in the current outbreak, at this time, no onlinemon grower, supplier, distributor, or brand of romaine lettuce has been identified.

From the CDC: Consumers should not eat any romaine lettuce, and restaurants and retailers should not sell any, until more is learned about this outbreak and the source of the contaminated lettuce.

If you have lettuce and you’re unsure of its type or origin, throw it out!


In similar news: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Raw Turkey Grows (1 Person Dead, 164 Sickened)

Join The Discussion

onlinements 54

  1. Denise

    Geez just when you think your making a healthy choice. Maybe I should eat candy instead

    • Jenna

      I’m with you. No one ever got food poisoning from Skittles!

  2. Anna

    great- had bagged salad with grilled chicken for dinner. Yes I like the candy idea

  3. s

    Is this happening more often? I feel like I’m always throwing out lettuce. Scary but also really annoying.

  4. Rachel

    Ugh we had Greek salads tonight for dinner made with romaine. Of course I see notifications everywhere literally minutes after we were done eating.

  5. Cassie

    Just bought Romaine Hearts today.

    • susan

      Me, too 🙁

  6. Jackie

    Iceberg should still be fine, correct? Just had a huge salad for dinner but just want to make sure iceberg is not included

  7. Moses W

    That was nice of you guys for sharing this. Thank you for the heads up.

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      You’re so welonlinee!

  8. Melissa

    Thank you!

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      You bet!

  9. Layla

    I’m so glad I saw this! I just bought some about two hours ago for Thanksgiving. Thanks for the heads up!

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      You’re welonlinee!

  10. Ashley

    Sooo if you throw it out and then go to the store and buy more, is that lettuce going to be bad too possibly?

  11. coulter

    The lettuce can be returned to the store. I know lots of people will scoff and roll their eyes at waiting in line to return such a possible small amt of $$. But at this time of yr. spend the 5 minutes to return it and drop it in the kettle for salvation army. Mist stores have them outside. U will be teaching the processors who are getting far to careless with our safety a lesson. Otherwise everything we throw away is still their profit !! U also feel good for a Christmas donation 😊

    • Jen

      You make an excellent point!!!

  12. Natalie

    Thank you for posting!

    • Holly (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      You’re welonlinee, Natalie!

  13. Nichole

    Thank you for sharing

    • Holly (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      You’re welonlinee!

  14. Heather

    Wow I just bought some today! Gone now!!

  15. melinda

    I have packs of recalled turkey in my freezer, and now a whole drawer full.of recalled romaine. I give up, I’m getting McDonalds for the rest of the year.

  16. shan

    This seems to happen all the time…ugh! burger king, pizza and candy. Then my teeth will fall out and i won’t have to worry about lettuce any way. Geez!!

    • April r

      😂

  17. tracy

    Thank you. I had not seen this warning. I read the news every day and there were 5 stories about a Sex in the City sequel but nothing about this E. coli contamination.

  18. Alyssa

    We went to Olive Garden for dinner and they were out of salad because they had to throw it all out!

  19. Teresa

    So why are the stores still selling it?

    • E

      The alert on the CDC website just came out at 2:30pm today.

  20. K

    Getting really scary to eat with all these recalls.

    • Laura

      I agree! I better start growing everything myself. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Better stick with junk food then ugh

  21. Laura W

    Hubby has been sick the past two days..has eaten salad mix those two days at work. The salad mix is from work. He’s off these next few days so if he’s good here we know that’s what it is. 😬

    • Amber (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh no! Hoping he feels better soon!

  22. jacqueline

    Omg…no wonder why my daughter have diarea after eating salad I got from costco.

    • Amber (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh bummer! SO sorry to hear that! Hoping you feel better soon!

  23. 50ShadesofLipstick

    See, chips and cupcakes never do this to us. Just saying.

    • Amber (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      LOL!

  24. hellfiregainz

    But it’s the end of November. Any salad a month old shouldn’t be consumed anyways.

    All joking aside.. it was end of October?

  25. Des

    Greeeeeeeat. I had a big Romaine salad a few days ago, thought I made the smart choice by buying a whole head and doing the work myself. Started feeling nauseated yesterday then i saw this!

    So now I am afraid….and searching lettuce seeds. I’m growing my own next year! Tired of this recall crap!

    And for what it’s worth, there is plenty of recalled crap food, mostly for salmonella. Cereals, Duncan Hines cake mixes, etc. Plus, y’all talking about McDonalds….remember their poop salads from August? Pass!

    • Jen

      I started growing my own lettuce in containers since this. It’s a bit of work since you have to remember to seed start a new batch every 3-4 weeks for a continuous supply. It’s worth it since it tastes amazing when fresh and I don’t have to worry about such outbreaks.
      Be sure to choose a variety that works with your weather such as slow bolting if you live somewhere hot or cold tolerant if you get very few frost nights in the winter. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds offers free shipping to all of North America and has wide variety to choose from.

      • Jen

        *since this past spring.

      • EmilyMab

        Thanks for all the seed info! I was container gardening for a bit at my old apartment, looks like I’ll have to start back up again!

  26. greysw

    No wonder shelf in Aldi was all empty just now when I tried to get some lettuce

  27. Richy

    This is disappointing to hear. I was skeptical about eating romaine lettuce after the first outbreak – which I did – and now there’s another one?! Thank you on updating all of us with health matters in too. I wouldn’t know about any recalls if it weren’t for you.

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      You’re very welonlinee, Richy! So glad to help!

  28. Jessica

    Lettuce and spinach have a history of E coli contamination. Luckily, I live in an area that they are very easy to grow in the winter. So I know where my lettuce and spinach onlinee from and don’t have to worry!

  29. Amy

    I guess we need to grow our own food then we won’t be dependent on the food producers for our safety. lettuce is easy to grow. maybe we should all just have small gardens and utilize our apartments and yards to their full potential. I have not actively had a garden in a few years but when I did it only took a few min a week to maintain. It was easy. The only reason I quit was I keep having babies it’s hard being pregnant with morning sickness taking care of plants. good luck everyone I hope everyone stays healthy.

  30. Alaina

    Any way to get reimburse for what we throw out? Just bought at sams club. $8 worth. I live a hour from there otherwise I would just return it.

    • Andrea h

      I wonder the same thing, I just purchased $20 worth of romaine for my party.
      From walmart and some from Aldi.
      I should take it back to the store. but is it unsafe?

  31. Sarah

    Thanks for posting! Wasn’t aware of this recall (may explain why I’ve been sick the past two days after eating salad I recently bought). Of course with the holidays I just bought a boatload of lettuce mix- now I guess I have to throw it in the onlinepost bin 🙁

    • Amber (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh bummer! You’re welonlinee, Sarah! Hoping you feel better soon!

  32. Judy Trac

    I need my money back. I don’t have receipts for this

  33. Judy Trac

    I need my money back!! Can I just go to store and request for money back

    • MNme

      I returned mine to Target today. As long as you have the credit card you used for the purchase you don’t need a receipt.

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