Top lettuce brand causes 80 E. coli infections in 15 states, FDA stays quiet
E. coli in popular lettuce sickens 80 people in 15 states (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
A dangerous strain of E. coli tied to romaine lettuce infected more than 80 people across 15 US states over the past four months, but the FDA failed to alert the public, People reports.
The outbreak began in early November 2024 in St. Louis County, Missouri.
Hospitals started reporting severe E. coli symptoms, especially among teenagers, prompting local epidemiologist Dr. Amanda Brzozowski to sound the alarm.
"It was really scary," she told NBC News. "This type of situation we’ve never seen before."
By the time the FDA completed its investigation in February 2025, at least 115 confirmed or suspected cases had been identified. Yet the agency chose not to name the producers or issue a public warning.
According to an internal report obtained by NBC, the FDA stated: "There were no public communications related to this outbreak."
Lawsuits emerge as families demand accountability
Nine families are now suing Taylor Farms, one of the largest salad producers in the US, alleging that their products caused the infections.
The lettuce had reportedly been used by a local catering company that served many of the infected patients.
However, Taylor Farms denies responsibility: "We don’t believe Taylor Farms was the source… based on information collected during thorough third-party investigations and robust food safety controls."
The FDA defended its actions, stating it only names companies when there's enough evidence and actionable advice for the public.
"By the time investigators had confirmed the likely source, the outbreak had already ended," the agency said.
This outbreak highlights the danger of delayed public communication, especially when the health of children and teens is involved.
In a related warning, health experts recently raised alarms about another silent threat to youth: energy drinks. Often used to cope with stress, these beverages are now linked to heart problems and increased ER visits.
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