Previous Story
Romaine lettuce in NMI cleared of E. coli
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. cleared yesterday all romaine lettuce in the Commonwealth from possible E. coli contamination.
In an advisory, it said it is unlikely that any romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region is still available in people’s homes, stores, or restaurants due to its 21-day shelf life.
The affected lettuce was reportedly harvested from the Yuma growing region in Arizona.
While the outbreak of E.coli infection is ongoing, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the last shipments of romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona, were harvested on April 16, 2018, and the harvest season is over.
The most recent illnesses reported to the Centers for Disease Control started when romaine lettuce from the Yuma was likely still available in stores, restaurants, and in peoples’ homes.
Nonetheless, it is still important to protect your health by following these simple tips:
Wash your hands. Wash hands after using the restroom or changing diapers, before and after preparing or eating food, and after contact with animals.
Don’t prepare food or drink for others when you are sick.
Don’t cross-contaminate food preparation areas. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.
Wash fruits and vegetables before eating, unless the package says the contents have been washed.
To report a notifiable disease or possible E. coli infection, notify territorial epidemiologist Dr. Paul White in the Public Health and Hospital Emergency Preparedness and Laboratory Capacity Program by email at surveillance@chcc.gov.mp or call the CHCC at (670) 234-8950.
To report a possible source of contaminated romaine lettuce (produce sold in stores or served in restaurants), call the Bureau of Environmental Health at (670) 664-4870/72/73 or by sending an email to the BEH director John Tagabuel at john.tagabuel@dph.gov.mp. (PR)
