CDC: 172 Sick In 32 States From Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreak
PHOENIX (CBSNewYork/AP) — Health officials say nearly two dozen more cases of a food poisoning outbreak linked to romaine lettuce grown in Arizona have been reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the total number of people sickened by a strain of E. coli is now 172 across 32 states.
E. coli update: The last romaine lettuce shipments from the Yuma growing region were harvested on April 16 and are now past their 21-day shelf life. The romaine lettuce being sold and served today is NOT the romaine linked to illnesses. https://t.co/OVzp31mVqi pic.twitter.com/NQLH5elQxL
— CDC (@CDCgov) May 16, 2018
At least 75 people have been hospitalized, including 20 with kidney failure. One death was in California.
Health officials say there is a lag time of two to three weeks between when someone falls ill and when it's reported to the CDC.
The agency says the romaine was grown in Yuma, Arizona and was last harvested April 16 so it should no longer be in stores and restaurants because of its three-week shelf life.
On Twitter, the CDC said "the romaine lettuce being sold and served today is NOT the romaine linked to illnesses."
For the latest information about the outbreak, click here.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)