California farm tied to E. coli outbreak expands recall beyond romaine lettuce

The California farm where romaine lettuce was implicated in the recent nationwide E. coli outbreak said it is expanding its recall to include other forms of produce.

According to a company statement, Adam Bros. Farming Inc., in Santa Barbara County, said it is also recalling red and green leaf lettuce as well as cauliflower.

The company said it did so, "after it was discovered that sediment from a reservoir near where the produce was grown tested positive for E. coli O157:H7," the strain implicated in the outbreak.

As well, "the Adam Bros. recall has prompted asub-recall by Spokane Produce Inc., of Spokane, Wash.," the US Food and Drug Administration said in its own news release issued late Monday.

Spokane Produce "recalled sandwiches and other products under the Northwest Cuisine Creations and Fresh & Local labels," the FDA said.

Federal health investigators announced on Dec. 13 that they had pinpointed Adam Bros. as at least one California farm implicated in the recent outbreak of E. coli illness tied to romaine lettuce. They said that more farms in the same area are probably connected to the outbreak.

So far, 59 people across 15 states have come down with the often severe gastrointestinal illness. Health concerns were so high that just before Thanksgiving, the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked Americans to temporarily stop consuming all romaine lettuce while they investigated the source of the outbreak.

That investigation has now pinpointed Adam Bros. as a source, experts at the FDA and CDC have said.

"One of the samples tested by the CDC was positive for the outbreak strain by genetic fingerprinting, and was found in the sediment of an agricultural water reservoir at one ranch that is owned and operated by Adam Brothers Farming in Santa Barbara County, Calif.," said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, senior advisor to the FDA Commissioner.

He said the farm was cooperating with the investigation. The farm hasn't shipped romaine lettuce since Nov. 20, and Ostroff said the farm is "committed to recalling products that may have come into contact with water from the agricultural water reservoir."

That said, other farms in the area might still be implicated, so "people should still pay close attention to where their lettuce is from," he added.

Because of this and other recent outbreaks, romaine lettuce now sold in the United States has labeling indicating the place and date of harvest. If heads of romaine are sold loose, without affixed labels, retailers are being asked to post a notice showing place and date of harvest near the store register.

Most romaine sold in the United States is safe to eat. Right now, precautions are limited to romaine lettuce from just a few California counties, the FDA said.

"We continue to advise avoiding romaine lettuce from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Barbara counties in California," Ostroff said.

Hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine also does not appear to be related to the current outbreak.

    HealthDay

California farm tied to E. coli outbreak expands recall beyond romaine lettuce

The California farm where romaine lettuce was implicated in the recent nationwide E. coli outbreak said it is expanding its recall to include other forms of produce. According to a company statement, Adam Bros. Farming Inc., in Santa Barbara County, said it is also recalling red and green leaf lettuce as well as cauliflower. The company said it did so, after it was discovered that sediment from a reservoir near where the produce was grown tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, the strain implicated in the outbreak. As well, the Adam Bros. recall has prompted asub-recall by Spokane Produce Inc., of Spokane, Wash., the US Food and Drug Administration said in its own news release issued late Monday. Spokane Produce recalled sandwiches and other products under the Northwest Cuisine Creations and Fresh Local labels, the FDA said. Federal health investigators announced on Dec. 13 that they had pinpointed Adam Bros. as at least one California farm implicated in the recent outbreak of E. coli illness tied to romaine lettuce. They said that more farms in the same area are probably connected to the outbreak. So far, 59 people across 15 states have come down with the often severe gastrointestinal illness. Health concerns were so high that just before Thanksgiving, the FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asked Americans to temporarily stop consuming all romaine lettuce while they investigated the source of the outbreak. That investigation has now pinpointed Adam Bros. as a source, experts at the FDA and CDC have said. One of the samples tested by the CDC was positive for the outbreak strain by genetic fingerprinting, and was found in the sediment of an agricultural water reservoir at one ranch that is owned and operated by Adam Brothers Farming in Santa Barbara County, Calif., said Dr. Stephen Ostroff, senior advisor to the FDA Commissioner. He said the farm was cooperating with the investigation. The farm hasnt shipped romaine lettuce since Nov. 20, and Ostroff said the farm is committed to recalling products that may have come into contact with water from the agricultural water reservoir. That said, other farms in the area might still be implicated, so people should still pay close attention to where their lettuce is from, he added. Because of this and other recent outbreaks, romaine lettuce now sold in the United States has labeling indicating the place and date of harvest. If heads of romaine are sold loose, without affixed labels, retailers are being asked to post a notice showing place and date of harvest near the store register. Most romaine sold in the United States is safe to eat. Right now, precautions are limited to romaine lettuce from just a few California counties, the FDA said. We continue to advise avoiding romaine lettuce from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Barbara counties in California, Ostroff said. Hydroponically- and greenhouse-grown romaine also does not appear to be related to the current outbreak. HealthDay