Is your salad safe? The romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak hits 29 states

Tainted romaine lettuce has sickened 149 people in what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls the largest multistate E. coli outbreak in a dozen years. The CDC released the latest figures Wednesday, saying the bacteria-tainted lettuce has sickened people in 29 states. People get sick within two to eight days of eating the lettuce, causing diarrhea, stomach cramps and vomiting. Although most people recover in one week, the illness could lead to kidney failure. So far, 1 person died, 64 people have been hospitalized, including 17 with kidney failure, the CDC said.

Are you worried about E.coli? Take the following precautions: 

  • Avoid any lettuce from the region of Yuma, Arizona — whole heads, hearts, chopped, organic or baby.
  • Wash your hands regularly, wash fruits and vegetables, avoid raw milk and don’t prepare food when you’re sick.