The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened 17 people across 13 states. Although officials have not yet found the source of the outbreak, preliminary test show similarities to an ongoing outbreak in Canada linked to romaine lettuce that has sickened 41 with 1 death.

In a press release sent to journalists, the CDC stated, “this investigation is ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.”

The information that they do have is that outbreak has an onset range from November 15 – December 8 and affects the states of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont, and Washington.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) issued its first announcement about an E coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce on Dec 11. In a Dec 21 update, it said it is so far investigating 41 cases from five provinces: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. It urged the public to avoid eating romaine lettuce until more is known about the contamination.

A bit of history of Romaine and E. coli Outbreaks:

E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce – Canada and California, April 2012

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy Greens, Lettuce, Romaine

An outbreak of E. coli O157 was linked to romaine lettuce grown and distributed by Amazing Coachella Inc., which is the parent company of Peter Rabbit Farms, both based in Coachella, California. Health officials in New Brunswick, Canada identified at…Read More »

Multistate Schnucks Salad Bars, College Campuses Romaine Lettuce 2011

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy Greens, Lettuce, Romaine

An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 was first identified in the region around Saint Louis, Missouri. Cases were found in Saint Louis, Jefferson, Saint Charles, and Saint Clair counties and in the city of Saint Louis. The cases ranged in age from 1 to 94…Read More »

Church Brothers LLC/ Cafe Rio Restaurant/ Chipotle Restaurant Romaine Lettuce 2009

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy Greens, Romaine Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce

In September, 2009, a cluster of patients who had been infected with an indistinguishable strain of E. coli O157:H7 was identified. Initially case-patients were identified in Colorado, Utah, and New York State. Additional case-patients were identif…Read More » 

2009 Multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 linked to leaf lettuce

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetables, Leafy Greens, Romaine lettuce

In September 2009 public health officials in Colorado, Minnesota, North Carolina, Iowa, Connecticut, and Missouri identified a cluster of patients with an indistinguishable strain of E. coli O157. The cluster was assigned 0910MLEXH-1. Two Colorado …Read More »

M.T. Belllies Restaurant Ontario Romaine Lettuce 2008

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Lettuce, Romaine

An outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 was associated with eating at M.T. Bellies Restaurant, Welland, Ontario, Canada. This was one of four, concurrent, restaurant-associated, outbreaks of E.coli O157:H7 that occurred in Ontario, Canada. Romaine lettuce wa…Read More »

Johnathan’s Family Restaurant Ontario Romaine Lettuce 2008

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Lettuce, Romaine

Johnathan’s Family Restaurant in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, was implicated in an outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 involving romaine lettuce. This outbreak was one of four, concurrent, restaurant-associated outbreaks in Ontario, Canada. The E.coli O157:…Read More »

Little Red Rooster Restaurant Ontario Romaine Lettuce 2008

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Lettuce, Romaine

The owners of Little Red Rooster Restaurant, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, closed the restaurant in October after an outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 was discovered. This outbreak was one of four, concurrent, outbreaks of E.coli O157:H7 occurri…Read More »

Spokane Dance Camp Lettuce 2002

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy greens, Romaine lettuce

An outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 occurred among attendees of a dance camp held between July 11-14 on the campus of Eastern Washington University. The camp was for middle and high school girls. Attendees were from Washington, Montana, and Minnesota. S…Read More »

Multistate Retirement Facility and Private Home Romaine Lettuce 1999

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy greens, Romaine Lettuce Caesar Salad

When in November, 1999, seven residents of a Pennsylvania retirement facility were hospitalized with E. coli O157:H7 infection, an outbreak investigation began. The investigation associated eating romaine lettuce that had been prepared in one of the…Read More »

Multistate Restaurant or Private Home Romaine Lettuce 1999

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy Greens, Romaine Lettuce

An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 was associated with eating romaine lettuce in restaurants and in private home settings.…Read More »

Romaine Lettuce 1995

  • Organism:
  • coli O157:H7
  • Vehicle:
  • Vegetable, Leafy Greens, Romaine Lettuce

An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 occurred among people who ate romaine lettuce in Idaho. The lettuce possibly was contaminated by a food handler. No other details were available.…Read More »

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products.  The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s.  We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.