FDA identifies possible culprit as source of tainted romaine lettuce

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The FDA is looking at California as a potential source of romaine lettuce tainted with a potentially deadly strain E. coli.

Health officials said romaine lettuce should be removed from all supermarket shelves and restaurant menus until they can determine the source of the new outbreak. But, as Anna Werner reports, tracking down the source of the contaminated produce is quite difficult.

The potentially deadly strain of the bacteria has sickened 32 people in 11 states since October. Nearly a third of the cases are in Los Angeles County. Scott Horsfall, the CEO of the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, said most of the romaine on the market when the outbreak began was grown in his state.

"Given the harvest cycle at that time, I think there's a good possibility that it came from California, yes," Horsfall said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/fda-identifies-possible-culprit-as-source-of-tainted-romaine-lettuce/ar-BBPZooL?li=BBnb7Kz

[pangaia]

1. California. Yes. I just knew it.

Let's cut off all funds for California.

[Journeyman]

4. Oh, hell no. We're gonna rake those fields same time we do the forests. . .

Let us toss salad into the mix, give us a couple days, and we'll Rake California Anew (because it's always been Great!).

[MineralMan]

2. We have a large grower here of hydroponic lettuces.

You can find them in most major supermarkets, and they were still on the shelves. A little pricier, but no worries about poop bacteria with them.

I'm not a big romaine fan, anyhow. There are many other varieties I like better. Romaine is sort of a coarse lettuce, in my opinion, with few good uses beyond Caesar salads.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Your second

paragraph is the story. Thanks again.

Cow Manure sprayed on the fields or mixed with Irrigation water is the usual suspect.

[MineralMan]

7. Yes.

[MineralMan]

9. I tend to use leaf lettuce o

I tend to use leaf lettuce only as a container for other raw things. For example, a favorite salad for guests starts with a single large leaf of butter lettuce as a cup, holding heirloom tomatoes, minced garlic chives from my yard, and one or two other interesting ingredients, dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

[Sunriser13]

10. Red or white wine?

It would be terribly uncouth for a guest to arrive without a hostess gift. What time do you prefer we put in our appearance?

... a favorite salad for guests starts with a single large leaf of butter lettuce as a cup, holding heirloom tomatoes, minced garlic chives from my yard, and one or two other interesting ingredients, dressed with a balsamic vinaigrette.

[MineralMan]

14. Depends on the main course.

I tend to do seafood, poultry or pork and lamb. So white wines are generally the best bet. However,I a robust red would work with my chocolate desserts. A nice tawny port is also welcome for sipping later.

[Wellstone ruled]

11. We now have a indoor

grow house here in the valley. My understanding is,this facility was conceived just for this reason in order to supply the Casino and other Restaurants. The building was a Warehouse that was purchased out of Bankruptcy and retro fitted. BTW,they also do Herbs for the local Grocery retailers as well.

Believe you have a similiar facility or two out Shakopee Way in repurposed Manufacturing Buildings.

[Blue_true]

12. I like a mix of romaine and iceberg. A little Bib is great when it can be found.

Never had a taste for fancier lettuce and can't eat spinach.

BTW. What is the turn rate of the hydroponic grower? Do it use precision grow lights (lights that have wavelengths optimized to what the growing plant likes) or just regular lights and heat?

[MineralMan]

13. I don't know the details about

That hydroponics farmer. They have an enormous facility, but I haven't visited it.

[Blue_true]

15. They likely grow in big grow beds with maybe grow lights.

They grow in a variety of media and feed the plants with a liquid fertilizer solution. I know of one big operation in the Northeast, look like it is spreading. Canada is ahead of us with several plants, but here in the states my guess is within 5-20 years, all greens and lettuce and some root vegetables, strawberries and pineapples will be grown indoors, those plants are optimum for that type of setup. A regular floor in a building can be partitioned into around 4-6 levels, depending on the plant. It is the future of food, unfortunately the big agri-businesses will own it because of the startup costs.

My guess is that place near you won't let people visit, maybe students. My guess is some really big money is behind it. But they can turn salad greens in just a few weeks and then start over, so the profit potential is enormous.

[MineralMan]

16. Yes. An endless growing season, no pests and

Beautiful end results. It's the future for some crops. We have hydroponic tomatoes year round in or supermarkets, too. Ripe, and delivered daily. I don't mind paying more for them

[Takket]

3. Are they not raking the fields enough?

[GulfCoast66]

6. I buy hydroponic lettuce.

And this time of year in Florida I can but at farmers markets from small growers that grow hydroponics.

I often favor organic products but would never serve my family field raised organic lettuce. Too much chance of shit contamination.

[Glimmer of Hope]

8. I am in California and romaine is still on the shelf! The word is not getting out to the

appropriate people.

[sl8]

17. Over 98% of US leaf lettuce comes from either California or Arizona.

Seems like they're going out on quite the limb to identify CA as a possible culprit.