The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about eating romaine lettuce.

According to the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) , at least 32 people have gotten sick and at least 13 have been hospitalized as a result of an E. coli outbreak connected to romaine ettuce. So far , the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 have been reported in 11 states . The illnesses started on dates ranging from October 8, 2018 to October 31 , 2018. In Canada , 18 people have been infected with the same strain of E. coli. According to the CDC , epidemiologic evidence indicates that romaine lettuce is a likely source of the outbreak.

Consumers are advised not to eat any romaine lettuce because no common grower , supplier , distributor , or brand of romaine lettuce has been identified. The public is advised to dispose of all romaine lettuce including whole heads , romaine hearts , boxes of romaine or salad mixes that contain romaine. Restaurants and retailers have been warned not to serve any form of romaine lettuce to customers. The FDA , CDC along with state and local agencies are investigating the current outbreak.