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Romaine lettuce sold at Schnucks identified as source of recent E. coli outbreak

A map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing the number of persons who were infected with the strain of E. coli in the recent outbreak of illness in Missouri and nine other states.
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website)
A map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing the number of persons who were infected with the strain of E. coli in the recent outbreak of illness in Missouri and nine other states.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that romaine lettuce was the source of the E. coli outbreak that sickened a total of 60 people in ten states earlier this fall.

Thirty-seven of those infected were in Missouri.

On its website, the CDC says the lettuce came from salad bars from a single grocery store chain but did not report the name of the chain. Schnucks management has confirmed that it is the chain in question.

In late October, Schnucks voluntarily removed all suspected food items from its salad bars.

The CDC also says that the E. coli contamination came from a single farm and processing facility. The Agency says this suggests the contamination occurred before the lettuce reached stores.

The CDC says the outbreak appears to be over and consumers do not need to avoid eating any specific food items.