E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce 'appears to be over' in Canada

Salad lovers can now rest easy, as Health Canada has released an update regarding the ongoing investigation of an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce, and this time it’s good news.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is no longer advising residents in the affected provinces of Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick to avoid eating romaine lettuce and salad mixes containing romaine lettuce.

This update comes after authorities determined the Canadian outbreak appears to be over as there have been no new cases of the illness reported in Canada since mid-November.

The initial investigation began when infected individuals became sick between mid-October and early November 2018. There had previously been a total of four cases investigated in Ontario, 17 in Quebec, and one in New Brunswick.

See also

• Bulk Barn issues recall for chocolate bars containing undeclared allergen
• 5 hospitalized and 1 dead after Salmonella outbreak in Canada

People who become ill from E. coli can have a wide range of symptoms. Some may have no symptoms and some may become seriously ill and be hospitalized. Symptoms can appear within one to 10 days after infection and can include:

• Severe stomach cramps
• Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Little or no fever

If you have eaten this product but have no symptoms, there is no need to do anything.

However, if you become ill after consuming this lettuce:

1. Practice good hand washing with warm water and soap to prevent the spread of illness
2. Drink lots of clear fluids to stay hydrated
3. Anyone who has bloody diarrhea or is concerned about their symptoms should see a health care provider immediately
4. Antibiotics and anti-diarrhea medications should not be used to treat this infection unless prescribed by your health care provider

For more information 1-866-225-0709 or email: [email protected].