Latest E. coli in Leafy Greens Outbreak Ends
An E. coli outbreak that began in August is officially over, CDC and FDA announced on December 22. The outbreak flummoxed investigators. Although health officials are confident leafy greens carried the pathogen, health offices have not yet learned which type is to blame. FDA will continue its investigation.
CDC reports the outbreak resulted in 40 cases in 19 states. Half of the reported cases were hospitalized.
This marks the end of the second of three E. coli outbreaks that took place this past fall. The numbers of the other two outbreaks were similarly low. One infected 18 people and resulted in a recall of Tanimura & Antle romaine, due to finding an identical strain in a sampling. The other outbreak infected 32. Worryingly, health officials say that strain is genetically similar to the one that caused an outbreak in 2018, FDA says.
Industry Continues to Search for Better Safety Protocols
After the series outbreaks in 2018, the leafy greens industry intensified already rigorous safety standards.
“The industry has invested significantly into traceability to facilitate removal of tainted product from commerce,” the Produce Marketing Association [PMA] said in a statement. “PMA continues to convene experts to identify production practices that have a realistic chance of reducing the risk of contamination and transfer. The risk will never be zero, but we continue to monitor emerging science-based knowledge and support the leafy greens supply chain as they strive to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.”
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