Lettuce Recalled over Listeria Contamination Fears

A California lettuce grower has recalled almost 2,500 cartons of chopped romaine lettuce because of possible listeria contamination, which is responsible for multi-state outbreak linked with tainted cantaloupes.

After a random sample detected listeria monocytogenes in one bag pulled from a lot shipped on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and True Leaf Farms had recalled 90 cartons of chopped romaine lettuce last Thursday.

However, later the day, True Leaf announced that FDA requested the company to expand the recall.

The romaine lettuce has been sold to wholesale food-service distributors across 19 states in US, apart from some in British Columbia and Alberta.

Listeria, a bacterial genus, can cause fever, muscle aches and gastrointestinal problems. Although listeria does no big harm to the healthy, it can severely affect the elderly and the frail. It can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

Recently, the listeria bacteria was held responsible for a multi-state outbreak related with tainted cantaloupes, which killed 13 and sickened 72.

There is a code B256-46438-8 and a “use by date” of 9/29/11 printed on the recalled lettuce bags.

The dangerous lettuce was shipped to Cash & Carry Smart Foodservice warehouses in Washington, and Idaho and Oregon.

The FDA said although there have been no illnesses reported, the contaminated lettuce should be destroyed.