Client Reviews is advising folks in opposition to consuming any Wendy's sandwich or salad with romaine lettuce till extra is thought a couple of pressure of E. coli that has sickened 37 folks, hospitalizing 10.
The non-profit advocacy group cited its meals security specialists in urging a cautious method till the fast-food chain can verify the supply of the pathogen and particulars the way it plans to handle the issue.
"E. coli could be particularly dangerous to younger kids, infants, older individuals and people with a compromised immune system," James Rogers, CR's director of meals security and testing, mentioned Monday in a assertion. "The objective is to reduce your danger of getting it, and till we all know extra about its supply, it is most secure to keep away from consuming Wendy's sandwiches served with lettuce and any Wendy's salad containing romaine lettuce."
Whereas the supply of the outbreak is unclear, most of the 37 individuals who lately contracted E. coli reported consuming lettuce at a Wendy's location in Michigan, Ohio or Pennsylvania earlier than getting sick, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned on Friday.
"Romaine lettuce served on burgers and sandwiches at Wendy's was one of the widespread components eaten among the many menu objects, however investigators proceed to investigate knowledge on the ingredient degree to find out if there are another doable meals that could possibly be the supply of the outbreak," the company mentioned.
Bigger outbreak?
Fifteen of those that fell sick stay in Michigan, 19 are from Ohio, two are from Pennsylvania and one is from Indiana, based on the CDC. Of the 26 of those that had been interviewed as a part of an company probe, 22 mentioned they ate at a Wendy's within the week earlier than they received sick.
However the precise variety of these sickened within the outbreak is probably going greater than reported and will embody greater than 4 states, the CDC famous.
Reached for remark, a Wendy's consultant mentioned the corporate is cooperating with public well being officers investigating the outbreak. The corporate additionally has discarded and changed the sandwich lettuce at some eateries within the area the place folks had been stricken.
"The lettuce that we use in our salads is completely different, and isn't affected by this motion," Wendy's mentioned.
Romaine lettuce and different greens like spinach and clover sprouts have been concerned in not less than 17 E. coli outbreaks across the U.S. between 2006 and 2019, based on the CDC.
Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy's and its franchisees function about 7,000 eating places worldwide.