DES MOINES, Iowa - Produce departments at Hy Vee, Fareway and other grocery stores in Iowa are pulling romaine lettuce off their shelves.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ordered stores and restaurants to remove all romaine lettuce from shelves and menus, and is urging consumers to throw away any romaine lettuce they may have bought.
The dire warning comes after a strain of e.Coli bacteria caused sicknesses in 32 cases in 11 states. 13 of them are hospitalized, one victim suffered kidney failure. So far, there have been no reports of any deaths, however.
There are no confirmed cases in Iowa as of the CDC's November 21 report, but there are confirmed cases in neighboring Illinois and Wisconsin.
CLICK HERE for Centers for Disease Control E-coli outbreak map
Signs and symptoms of the most severe E. coli infection typically begin three or four days after exposure to the bacteria, though you may become ill as soon as one day after to more than a week later. Signs and symptoms include:
- Diarrhea, which may range from mild and watery to severe and bloody
- Abdominal cramping, pain or tenderness
- Nausea and vomiting, in some people
Contact your doctor if your diarrhea is persistent, severe or bloody.