Freshway Foods E coli 0145 Romaine Lettuce Recall
Romaine lettuce contaminated with E. coli O145 has been recalled by Freshway Foods in Sidney, Ohio, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products were sold to wholesale, service outlets, and in-store retail salad bars and delis under the Freshway and Imperial Sysco brands.
The recall has been associated with an E. coli 0145 outbreak investigation at several universities and colleges including: the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, and Daemen College in Amherst, New York, the FDA said.
Freshway Foods potentially contaminated romaine lettuce was distributed in the following states:
- Wholesalers and food service outlets in: Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
- In-store salad bars and delis for the following stores: Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores in the above states
According to the FDA announcement, “Freshway Foods has kept the FDA and other public health authorities fully apprised of its handling of this matter, and it continues to cooperate with them to identify the cause. An extensive FDA investigation of Freshway Foods’ facility in Sidney has not uncovered any contamination at the plant.”
About Lettuce E. coli Contamination
E. coli is a bacteria commonly present in the digestive systems of livestock, especially cattle. Manure and fecal matter from livestock can contaminate water sources and produce in the surrounding environs, and produce can remain contaminated all the way until it reaches the consumer’s plate. Not all strains of E. coli can cause a serious E coli infection, but E coli O145 is a harmful strain of the bacteria.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen E. coli illnesses associated with lettuce in an institutional food service setting,” said food poisoning attorney Ryan Osterholm. “Unless food producers take further steps to ensure the safety of their product, this won’t be the last time such an outbreak occurs.”
E. coli infection symptoms include: nausea, severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. An e coli infection can lead to more serious conditions including hemolytic uremic syndrome (E. coli HUS) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Victims of E.coli food poisoning could have legal claims against food producers and others.
Tags: E coli 0145, E. coli HUS, Freshway Foods Class Action Lawsuit, HUS Syndrome, Lettuce E. coli
