E. Coli – Another Attack from Arizona?

Is Arizona the root of all evil? The ongoing FDA investigation of a recent lettuce-induced E. coli outbreak is focusing “on lettuce grown in Arizona,” according to the AP. The outbreak has sickened at least 19 people, 3 seriously, in 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia, including students on three college campuses.

Students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, University of Ohio in Columbus and Daeman College in Amherst, N.Y. are among those infected. Is it a coincidence? Or is Arizona now targeting liberal universities, blue states, and states with large populations of non-whites?

No word yet on whether or not the infected were asked for their papers prior to being served the greens.

All jesting aside, here are more (real) details from the AP:

Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio, is recalling romaine lettuce sold under the Freshway and Imperial Sysco brands due to a possible link to the outbreak. The recalled lettuce has a “best if used by” date of May 12 or earlier. The recall also affects “grab and go” salads sold at Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets and Marsh grocery stores.

The lettuce was sold in Alabama, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Image of romaine from muffet at flickr.com.