Romaine Lettuce E-Coli Issues

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   RJ Schwartzposted 6 years ago

   With the recent news of E-Coli connected to Romaine lettuce, and most recently a fatality, the USDA is warning consumers to be wary of lettuce grown in Yuma, AZ.  What's worse is that officials have been unable to clearly pinpoint the source of the contamination.  The general lack of information seems to be affecting how consumers buy all types of fresh produce - reports are that sales are sluggish nationwide in all fresh items.
   
   How has this scare changed your buying habits, if at all?  Is there anything you are avoiding totally in the short run?  Do you think that the USDA is failing consumers due to their lack of real answers?

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      wildernessposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Do I think the USDA is failing us because they have not pinpointed the exact location of the contamination?
      
      How many wholesalers handled the product?  How many shippers?  How many hands have touched it?  How many growers are in the area?  Was it a short term contamination or is it still there? 
      
      As we don't stamp lettuce with an identification number I don't see how they will EVER find the source, unless it is still active, still contaminating and is found that way.  Not that that would prove the initial source, of course, but it's a start.

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2. STAFF

   Paul Edmondsonposted 6 years ago

   We are trying not to eat it for now.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 6 years ago

   Its a disaster! I'm eating dandelion greens, kale and other types of lettuce. I had a bad reaction to a salad from Blaze. Haven't touched Romain since. 
   What if it was purposely done, by disgruntled workers who don't like US plans to build a wall.
   … Or something like that?

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   1. 87

      RJ Schwartzposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      That is one theory (it was in Yuma Arizona)

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4. 83

   psycheskinnerposted 6 years ago

   If you want the USDA and CDC to have answers they need to be allowed to fill all their empty staff positions.  Tracking outbreaks is difficult, skilled and time consuming work. Every time an animal poops some E Coli in a field, the vegetable it lands on can end up in a million difference places, and there is no tracking system for food or meat in this country because it would require funding.  In most cases the food in your plate is not traceable to its source.

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