CDC: Avoid chopped romaine lettuce from Yuma growing region

You should avoid all chopped romaine lettuce unless you can confirm that it isn't from the Yuma, Arizona, growing region, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC says an E. coli outbreak linked to chopped romaine has affected at least 53 people in 16 states, with most occurring in Idaho, Montana, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Thirty-one people have been hospitalized, including five people who have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

No deaths have been reported.

Symptoms of E. coli include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. In some cases it can be life-threatening.

The outbreak is linked to a growing region near Yuma that's known as the "winter lettuce capital." No common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified.

Consumers anywhere in the United States who have store-bought chopped romaine lettuce at home, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.

Before purchasing romaine lettuce at a grocery store or eating it at a restaurant, confirm with the store or restaurant that it is not chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. If you cannot confirm the source of the romaine lettuce, do not buy it or eat it.

Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any chopped romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.

Restaurants and retailers should ask their suppliers about the source of their chopped romaine lettuce.