avatarEP McKnight, MEd

Summary

The author recounts their experience with a recall of romaine lettuce due to an E. coli outbreak, detailing their illness after consuming a contaminated salad kit and the subsequent return of the product.

Abstract

The article narrates the author's personal encounter with foodborne illness after consuming a salad kit containing romaine lettuce from Salinas, California, which was later recalled due to an E. coli outbreak. Despite initial mild stomach discomfort, the author did not require hospitalization and managed to recover by avoiding the contaminated produce and adhering to a diet of safer vegetables. The incident has prompted the author to reconsider their usual diet, which heavily featured lettuce and salad kits, and to advocate for stricter food safety guidelines by the FDA to prevent future outbreaks.

Opinions

  • The author expresses concern over the repeated occurrences of E. coli outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce, particularly around Thanksgiving.
  • There is a call for the FDA to implement more stringent regulations on produce to protect consumers, suggesting that the current measures are insufficient.
  • The author appreciates the clear labeling on produce packaging, which has helped in identifying and returning contaminated products.
  • Despite the scare, the author remains an advocate for healthy eating but is now more cautious about salad consumption, emphasizing the importance of prevention over treatment.

How I survived Tainted Romaine Lettuce Pt 2

Sometimes eating healthy has its perils

I ate Romaine Lettuce in a salad kit before I heard about the recall. History repeats itself!! Another Thanksgiving Recall for Romaine Lettuce and salad kits!!

Salinas Valley’s Romaine Lettuce and Salad Kits got many sickened and sent to the hospital!!

About a week ago, I purchased two salad kits from Ralph’s as I have been doing for years. My diet had always been centered around salad kits, veggies, little to no meat and minimum sugar and refine carbs. Salad was a staple.

I purchased two salad kits a week ago and finally ate one half of one, last Friday. No sooner when I ate it, I felt a little sick on the stomach. I attributed it to being tired or something. Drank lots of green tea, to flush my system of whatever was causing me to feel uneasy in the stomach. Shortly, thereafter I heard on the news about a recall of romaine lettuce but I dismissed because I assumed the alert was pertaining to a head of romaine lettuce. That night still felt the same way, the following morning the same way so I drank more hot water and lemon to settle my stomach.

Thought if I went to the gym to workout, would feel better later. Returning home I heard about the recall of Romaine lettuce from Salinas and its’ associated salad kits. After shopping a bit, I rushed home to check out the package of salad kits left in the refrigerator. My stomach was yet unsettled.

To my shock, I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read Salinas on the package. Now, I knew that it was truly the salad kit that had effected me. I hurriedly returned the salad kits to Ralph’s and they refunded my money without hesitation. Stomach still upset, so I ate some carbs to settle my stomach along with the hot water and lemon I am yet drinking. Wasn’t sick enough to go to a hospital even though in the back of my mind, I kept thinking of E-coli bacteria.

I continued my day’s events as I monitored my stomach. The night ended with dinner and all seemed well. It had now been three days since I had a little upset stomach. So I figure while it was the salad, I didn’t have the symptoms of E-coli bacteria, thank God, and there was no need to seek medical attention. I was one of the blessed ones.

According to the news, all Salinas grown romaine lettuce and salad kits must be discard or returned to the store due to the news that many people across the country who had eating any type of romaine lettuce from Salinas became sick with the E. Coli outbreak.

This latest outbreak of E. coli infections had been linked to California’s Salinas Valley was the reason that forty people in sixteen states had been sickened, 28 of them sought medical help.

Also, the news warned if you’re not sure of the origin of your romaine lettuce and/or salad kit, discard to be safe. Also, a website was provided that listed all the recalled romaine lettuce associated products. These products to be checked included whole heads, hearts, pre-cut packaged lettuce and salad mixes, including baby romaine, spring mix and Caesar salad.

This warning marks the second consecutive Thanksgiving alert for consumers. Bad timing for Thanksgiving! Last year, 2018, consumers were warned of lettuce linked to California’s Central Coast after it was linked to an illness that be-felled 43 people in 12 states.

Also note prior to the recent alert, Maryland health authorities linked recent illnesses to a Caesar salad mix from a New Jersey food company, Missa Bay LLC. They recalled 75, 233 pounds of salad products.

Thank God for labeling of these salads. Growers in California and Arizona recently began clearly labeling the origin of their produce to prevent economic damage.

On the west coast, a lot of the romaine salad has been harvested in Arizona and Southern California and are not a part of the outbreak and safe for consumption.

Before the last recall, there was another alert last month where 23 people in 12 states were sickened by fecal bacteria traced to romaine lettuce between July and early September.

On the heels of last year’s Thanksgiving outbreak there was another rash of food borne illnesses that killed five people and sickened more than 200, the worst multi-state E. coli outbreak in a decade.

Two outbreak stemming from the Central Coast that sicken more than 50 people in multiple states provoked the FDA to monitor closely produce from California-Arizona winter growing regions. In my opinion, lives are being affected greatly, the FDA should institute stricter guidelines to prevent these breakouts or at least minimize them.

Illness from the Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli bacteria usually strikes three to four days after contact. Symptoms include diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting.

In conclusion, being an advocate of all salads and vegetables, I am having to rethink my diet of lettuce and salad kits, my staple. If the FDA and the growers can’t and won’t protect the consumers then the consumers must become their own advocate. For right now, I am swearing off of all salads and replacing with vegetables primarily just to be on the safe side. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!!

Health
Life
Life Lessons
Personal Development
Self Improvement
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