Romaine Lettuce Recall Sold in 23 States with dangerous E. coli O145 bacteria

May 6, 2010 — Romaine lettuce sold in 23 states and the District of Columbia may be contaminated with dangerous E. coli O145 bacteria  and has been recalled.

Federal health authorities say  12 of those sickened were hospitalized and three reported  life-threatening symptoms. The CDC says it is looking at 10 other cases  probably linked to the outbreak.

According to the FDA, the recall does not include prepackaged or bagged  salad mixes sold individually at grocery stores. Freshway Foods sells  its products to retail salad bars and delis, and wholesale food service  outlets.

College students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ohio  State in Columbus and Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y., are among those  affected, according to local health departments in those states.

Check your refrigerators.? Federal  health officials say more than a dozen people have been hospitalized,  some with life-threatening injuries.? The?CDC?is investigating.

Rosenbaum and other public health advocates have long been pushing  for stronger food safety laws. The House passed a bill last year that  would give the agency much more authority to police food production, but  the Senate has not acted on it.

The most common strain of E. coli found in U.S. patients is E. coli  O157. The CDC said the strain linked to the lettuce, E. coli 0145, is  more difficult to identify and may go unreported.