Dear Food Facility Permit Holder,
San Mateo County Environmental Health Services received notification today from the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding an outbreak of E.coli 0157:H7. There have been no cases reported in San Mateo County. However, there have been many questions about the safety of romaine lettuce.
Currently, the FDA does not have enough traceback information to identify the source of the contamination that would allow us to request a targeted recall from specific suppliers. At this stage in the investigation, the most efficient way to ensure that contaminated romaine is off the market would be for industry to voluntarily withdraw product from the market, and to withhold distribution of romaine until public health authorities can ensure the outbreak is over and/or until FDA can identify a specific source of contamination.
Until then, the FDA advises that consumers should not eat and discard romaine, or any mixed salads containing romaine, until more information on the source of the contamination and the status of the outbreak can be determined.
Questions should be directed to San Mateo County Environmental Health Services at
[email protected]
.
