Roundup: Romaine lettuce linked to food poisoning outbreak in Canada, possibly U.S.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Over the past seven weeks, at least 58 people in the United States and Canada have been sickened and two died from a dangerous strain of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, likely from romaine lettuce.

In the United States, 17 illnesses across 13 states have been associated with E. coli infections, and five of the patients have been hospitalized and one has died, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In Canada, 41 cases have been reported and one person has died. The Public Health Agency of Canada has been investigating the outbreak of E. coli infections in several provinces.

Classified as 0157:H7, the strain of E. coli in this new outbreak produces a toxin that can lead to serious illness, kidney failure, and even death. Leafy greens, including romaine lettuce, were the cause of E. coli outbreaks in 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

While the CDC is still collecting information to determine whether there is a food item in common that was ingested by those who were taken ill, including leafy greens and romaine, the Public Health Agency of Canada has identified romaine lettuce as the source of the food poisoning outbreak in Canada.

Whole genome sequencing is being performed on samples of bacteria making people sick in the United States to give information on whether these illnesses are related to the illnesses in Canada.

According to the CDC, preliminary results showed that the type of E. coli making people sick in both countries is closely related genetically, meaning the ill people are more likely to share a common source of infection.

However, the CDC said on its website that "we have not identified a source of the infections, thus is unable to recommend whether U.S. residents should avoid a particular food. This investigation is ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available."

Consumer Reports is now calling on the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC to do more to warn the public about the dangers of the outbreak.

"In the U.S., government health officials are investigating the outbreaks, but have stopped short of recommending people avoid romaine lettuce or any other food," said the nonprofit organization.

The consumer advocacy group advised that people stop eating romaine lettuce until the cause of the outbreak is identified and the offending product is removed from store shelves.

"Even though we can't say with 100 percent certainty that romaine lettuce is the cause of the E. coli outbreak in the U.S., a greater degree of caution is appropriate given that lettuce is almost always consumed raw," James Rogers, Ph.D., director of Food Safety and Research at Consumer Reports, was quoted as saying.

E. coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless and actually are an important part of a healthy human intestinal tract.

However, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they can cause illness, either diarrhea or illness outside of the intestinal tract. The types of E. coli that can cause diarrhea can be transmitted through contaminated water or food, or through contact with animals or persons.

The CDC estimates that each year 48 million people get sick from foodborne illnesses, 128,000 are hospitalized, and about 3,000 die. Enditem