As the FDA hasn’t yet implemented the announced changes in the fresh produce policy, it’s no wonder that we see the effects this early on.

One of the situations worth mentioning is a considerable outbreak in Illinois, of about 30 cases of E.coli. These numbers were provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The produce linked to these cases is the wide-spread, massively consumed and popular iceberg lettuce of Aunt Mid’s Produce Co. Upon hearing the results of the Health Department’s investigation, the company has voluntarily suspended the nation-wide production and distribution of said lettuce, until further instructions.

Aunt Mid’s contaminated lettuce had been distributed to restaurants and institutions under shredded or chopped forms, and it is believed it hasn’t reached store shelves. Thus, officials believe a health catastrophe was closely dodged. Philip Riggio, the CEO for Aunt Mid’s announced that they are treating the situation with maximum care and attention, as the safety of their customers is crucial to their business.

Although the product will be off the market for a while, investigators have yet to determine the source of the contaminated lettuce. It is essential for the source to be discovered, as similar cases of E.coli have also been spotted in New York, Ohio, Oregon and Michigan. At the Michigan University, eight students were admitted in hospital, with E. coli 0157:H7 and the University has also pulled frozen turkey from its cafeteria. Five other cases were inmates from a county jail.

0157:H7 is a dangerous strain, which can cause ailments ranging from bloody diarrhea to liver and kidney damage and sometimes even death. Surveys have been conducted in the universities from the states in which E.coli cases were discovered. Students are questioned about the produce they have been consuming, in order to eliminate other dangerous products distributed in these institutions and possibly in some stores.