The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded warnings to four states (MI, NY, OH, & TN) after another E. coli outbreak sickened at least 23 people.  No deaths have been reported and all cases seemed to be linked to a shredded romaine lettuce from a single facility.  People who have ingested E. coli often develop diarrhea and abdominal cramps lasting 2-8 days, but more severe cases can last longer. Don’t forget: E. coli is basically fecal matter.  It can come into contact with your produce at the farm (manure) or through improper handling at a food facility (read: somebody didn’t wash their hands!)

Don’t make that second trip back to the salad bar!  The current recall of romaine lettuce involves companies that deal with wholesale and food service outlets.  The romaine lettuce you buy in the grocery store should be safe, but with all bagged greens, you should still wash everything very thoroughly, even if it says triple-washed on the bag.  Considering buying lettuce whole and cutting it up yourself, as this is safer and doesn’t require your greens to potentially come into contact with contaminated produce.

Even safer? GROW your own lettuce. Chances are you don’t live near a huge dairy farm that’s dumping water with manure in it onto your property.  Chances are you aren’t going to take this lettuce to a factory where it will roll down a conveyor belt next to other filthy greens before you bag it up.  Instead, you will nurture your lettuce, pick it from the garden, and take it inside to be washed.  No poop involved unless you forget to wash your hands!

Too lazy? Did you know there are companies that you can hire to come to your house and do all the hard work for you?  Now you have no excuses!