The Public Health Agency of Canada says an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce “appears to be over.”
“The risk to Canadians has returned to low and the Public Health Agency of Canada is no longer advising individuals in affected provinces to consider consuming other types of lettuce, instead of romaine lettuce,” the agency said in an update Wednesday evening.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says it has completed its food safety investigation and all samples tested were negative for E. coli.
As of January 10, 2018, the agency says there were 42 cases of E. coli illness reported in five eastern provinces – eight in Ontario, 15 in Quebec, five in New Brunswick one in Nova Scotia and 13 in Newfoundland and Labrador. Seventeen people were hospitalized and one died, the agency said in the update.
Although the outbreak appears to be over, the Public Health Agency of Canada is still advising Canadians to follow safe food handling tips for preparing lettuce.
The investigation into the possible source of the contaminated product remains active in the United States.