CDC closes books on fall romaine E. coli outbreak

The Center for Disease Control has delivered a final summary on last fall’s outbreak of E. coli resulting from eating tainted romaine lettuce.

The outbreak involved 60 cases in 10 states, with most in Missouri and associated with romaine eaten at salad bars in several locations of a single grocery store chain. The CDC doesn’t name the chain, but it has been widely reported to be Schnucks grocery stores in the St. Louis area.

In addition, the CDC said the contamination most likely occurred before the lettuce reached the stores, and that the romaine in question was sourced from one farm. CDC did not name the farm, but the law firm involved in cases on behalf of at least two individuals sickened by the romaine said it is Vaughan Foods of Moore, Okla.

In total, CDC reports as of last week, 58 persons were infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli 0157:H7 between Oct. 9 and Nov. 7. The CDC has declared the outbreak to be over.