UK households who've got lettuce in their fridge 'warned'

UK households who have lettuce in the fridge have been urgently warned - over the EColi outbreak. Experts are "confident" they've found the source of a nasty E. Coli outbreak that left over 200 people sick and at least 67 hospitalised.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) told The Sun they believe that lettuce leaves are the cause. But it said it was "too early to determine" how the greens may have become contaminated.

Darren Whitby, Head of Incidents at the food safety watchdog, said: “Sandwich manufacturers are taking a precautionary measure to recall various sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls in response to findings from investigations by the FSA, Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) who are working to identify the cause of an ongoing outbreak caused by STEC.

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“This is a complex investigation, and we have worked swiftly with the relevant businesses and the local authorities concerned to narrow down the wide range of foods consumed to a small number of salad leaf products that have been used in sandwiches, wraps, subs and rolls.

"Following thorough food chain analysis, these products are being recalled as a precaution. Infections caused by STEC bacteria can cause severe bloody diarrhoea and, in some cases, more serious complications. We therefore advise any consumers who have any of these products not to eat them.

“The FSA is here to ensure that food is safe. If there are products on the market that are not, we won't hesitate to take action to remove them." Dr Chris Papadopoulos, principal lecturer in Public Health at the University of Bedfordshire, told Yahoo Life that salad leaves are particularly susceptible to contamination with the harmful bacteria.

“Firstly, salad leaves are often grown in open fields where they can come into contact with contaminated water, soil, or animal faeces," he said. “Secondly, the large surface area and porous nature of salad leaves provide an ideal environment for bacteria to adhere to and multiply.

“Thirdly, salad leaves are typically consumed raw, meaning they do not undergo cooking, which would kill harmful bacteria. This increases the risk of pathogens like E. coli being present on the leaves when consumed."