The Public Health Agency of Canada says the E. coli outbreak connected to romaine lettuce looks to be over.
In a news release on Wednesday, Jan. 10, the agency says it is no longer advising people in the five affected provinces – Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia – to consider eating other types of lettuce, instead of romaine.
While the cause of contamination has not been identified, there have been no illnesses beyond Dec. 12, 2017, the agency says.
As part of the investigation into the source of contamination, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency tested romaine lettuce for the presence of E. coli. All food samples tested negative.
There were 42 cases of E. coli illness in the affected provinces, including 13 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Seventeen people were hospitalized as a result and one person died.
Although the outbreak appears to be over, the agency suggests safe food handling procedures for preparing lettuce should always be followed.
