NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials in the U.S. and Canada on Tuesday told people to avoid eating romaine lettuce because of a new E. coli outbreak.
Publix told WPTV Tuesday that it has been removed all of their food that contains romaine, and will offer a full refund to customers who bring in romaine purchased at Publix.
However, on Wednesday morning, WPTV found romaine lettuce was still being sold at a Walmart Supercenter located at 4375 Belvedere Rd. in suburban West Palm Beach. The manager of the store said they had not been instructed by their supervisors to pull the product from shelves.
Walmart on Belvedere is selling romaine lettuce products. Store manager said she doesn’t have the authority to remove it from their shelves until she receives orders. CDC is warning NOT to eat or buy any! http://t.co/l6CxSTnNT9#Ecoli@WPTV#amcrewpic.twitter.com/ia4ZnXDhj2
— Janny Rodriguez (@JannyReports) November 21, 2018
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it was working with officials in Canada on the outbreak, which has sickened 32 people in 11 states in the U.S. and 18 people in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year, but it appears similar to one linked to leafy greens last year.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the agency didn't have enough information to request suppliers issue a recall, but he said supermarkets and restaurants should withdraw romaine products until the contamination can be identified.
No deaths have been reported, but 13 of the people who became sick in the U.S. were hospitalized. The last reported illness was on Oct. 31.
Tracing the source of contaminated lettuce can be difficult because it's often repackaged by middlemen, said Sarah Sorscher, deputy director of regulatory affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. That can mean the entire industry becomes implicated in outbreaks, even if not all products are contaminated.
Washing lettuce won't ensure that contaminated lettuce is safe, Sorscher said.
Most E. coli bacteria are benign but some can cause illness, with symptoms including severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. Most people recover within a week, but some illnesses can last longer and be more severe.
WPTV contributed to this report.
