Here's a handy excuse to avoid eating your vegetables: romaine lettuce is being recalled from 21 states over concerns that the greens are tainted with listeria, which you may recall as the same deadly bacteria found in cantaloupes last week.
True Leaf Farms in Salinas, California initially issued a recall of nearly 2,500 cartons of chopped or shredded romaine lettuce that was shipped to distributors in the west coast, but has since expanded the recall to include 19 other states, including New York and Connecticut. Listeria outbreaks are typically associated with deli meats, unpasteurized cheeses and smoked refrigerated seafood products, but the disease seems to be spreading through produce these days.
"We are fully cooperating with the FDA, and we are contacting all of our customers to ensure prompt removal of any product potentially associated with the recall," said Steve Church of True Leaf Farms. "We are committed to conducting this recall quickly and efficiently to reduce any risk to public health." All of the potentially contaminated bags carry a "use by" date of September 29, with the label B256-46438-8. So far, no deaths have been reported, but the agriculture-dependent Salinas Valley is clinging on to dear life to retain its title as "The Salad Bowl of the World."
