E. Coli Suspected In US Lettuce Brand, Canada Recalls Product

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Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Public Health;  GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology;  Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 17 Sep 2007 - 10:00 PST

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public about suspected contamination by E. coli O157:H7 bacteria of Dole Brand Hearts Delight Lettuce Salad imported from the USA.

No illnesses linked to eating the product have been reported so far.

The CFIA issued a Health Hazard Alert earlier today, Monday 17th September. The alert warns consumers not to eat the following product:

• Dole brand Hearts Delight lettuce salad (Ready to eat blend of romaine, green leaf and butter lettuce hearts).
• The lettuce hearts are sold in 227 g packets, and bear the Universal Product Code (UPC) UPC 0 71430 01038 9.
• The packets have a BIUB (Best If Used By) date of 07SE19.
• They also carry a lot code of A24924B.

It is believed that the product, which is suspected of being contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 has been distributed all over Canada.

The CFIA reminds consumers that food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may look perfectly alright to eat, it will not show signs of being spoiled and will not smell bad.

However, ingesting the bacteria may lead to potentially serious life threatening illnesses like seizures and strokes and some people may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis.

Some people can have .

Symptoms of infection include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea 3 to 4 days after exposure. Sometimes the infection has no symptoms with little or no fever and it goes in 5 to 10 days.

A healthy person would have to be exposed to a very high dose of the bacteria to become fatally ill.

But in some people, particularly young children under 5, the elderly and people who are already ill with a weak immune system, the infection can lead to a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which destroys red blood cells and causes kidney failure. Just under 1 in 10 people infected with E. coli O157:H7 who have the bloody diarrhea symptoms can get HUS and many need dialysis treatment. Some live with permanent kidney damage, and in severe cases, people have died.

The CFIA said they are working with the importers of the potentially contaminated product to stop it reaching consumers and will be monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

For more information call the CFIA on 1-800-442-2342 / TTY 1-800-465-7735 (8:00 am. to 8:00 pm Eastern time, Monday to Friday).

Click here for more information on E. coli O157:H7 and foodborne illness (CFIA Food Facts web page).

Written by: Catharine Paddock
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today