Locals react to E.Coli outbreak

The outbreak of E.Coli in 11 states have been linked to bagged and chopped Romain lettuce grown in Yuma.

This is the second report in 2018 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggesting to consumers to stay away from purchasing romaine lettuce from the grocery store. 13 on Your Side asked local shoppers on their thoughts of the outbreak, and how they keep produce safe when it leaves the grocery store.

‘I didn’t know it was here, to be honest, so I would be cautious about it and wash it to get all the dirt and bacteria off.’

‘I wash it, then I use it, to make sure it’s clean to keep dirt off. It’s with anything else like with meat, you don’t want to contaminate it.’

‘If it needs to be refrigerated we put it in the refrigerator. We use gloves constantly, we wash our hands before the meal and after the meal, and we use sanitation as much as you can.’

CDC also advises shoppers to dispose of bagged chopped romaine lettuce or salad mixes that contain romaine. The outbreak does not only affect the local shoppers but the local schools and restaurants that use romaine lettuce in their meals. Until investigators can find the exact supplier or grower, local families will continue to do their best to keep their bodies and families safe.