There's a warning from health officials about romaine lettuce.
The Public Health Agency of Canada reports 30 cases of E. coli linked to the leafy greens across Canada.
Six cases have been reported in Ontario, five in Quebec and New Brunswick, one in Nova Scotia, and 13 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Twelve people have been hospitalized and one person has died.
The Public Health Agency of Canada still says the risk to most Canadians is low and there are no recalls to announce.
Symptoms include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- mild fever
- severe stomach cramps
- watery or bloody diarrhea
People are reminded to wash lettuce properly following these steps:
- Discard outer leaves of fresh lettuce.
- Wash unpackaged lettuce under fresh, cool running water. There is no need to use anything other than water to wash lettuce. Washing it gently with water is as effective as using produce cleansers.
- Keep rinsing your lettuce until all of the dirt has been washed away.
- Don't soak lettuce in a sink full of water. It can become contaminated by bacteria in the sink.
- Store lettuce in the refrigerator for up to seven days. Discard when leaves become wilted or brown.
- Use warm water and soap to thoroughly wash all utensils, countertops and cutting boards before and after handling lettuce to avoid cross-contamination.