November 25, 2019
Romaine Lettuce, E. coli Investigation
From Heidi Rodriguez, Lake Stevens School District Food & Nutrition Services Assistant Supervisor:
"The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released information regarding an ongoing investigation into an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce harvested in the Salinas, California growing region. While there have not been any official recalls from our produce suppliers, based on the CDC's recommendations, we have discarded any romaine lettuce that we could not verify was grown outside of the Salinas region and have replaced it with fresh romaine grown in a region that has not been linked to the E. coli outbreak. Student and staff health and safety is our number one priority so we have been working closely with our produce vendors to ensure we are purchasing safe alternatives."
SOURCE: CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections
Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers from the CDC:
"Based on new information, CDC is advising that consumers not eat and retailers not sell any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region.”
For more detailed information about this investigation, please visit the CDC website.
November 29, 2018
UPDATE: Romaine Lettuce, E. coli Investigation
From Heidi Rodriguez, Lake Stevens School District Food & Nutrition Services Assistant Supervisor:
"The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released new information on November 26, 2018 regarding their ongoing investigation into an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce. The source of the outbreak has been determined to be the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California. Romaine lettuce grown and harvested outside of these regions, such as Yuma Arizona, the California desert regions, Florida, and Mexico are not linked to the outbreak and are therefore safe to consume. We have been working closely with our produce suppliers who have confirmed that they source romaine lettuce harvested in the Yuma growing region, which is not linked to the outbreak. Based on the results of the CDC's investigation, and per the CDC's recommendations, we will resume serving romaine lettuce in our school meal programs starting next week (12/3/2018) so long as it is labeled with a harvest region that is not linked to the outbreak."
SOURCE: CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, Canada, and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections.
Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers from the CDC:
"Based on new information, CDC is narrowing its warning to consumers. CDC is advising that U.S. consumers not eat and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any romaine lettuce harvested from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California. If you do not know where the romaine is from, do not eat it.”
For more detailed information about this investigation, please visit the CDC website.
November 20, 2018
Romaine Lettuce, E. coli Investigation
From Heidi Rodriguez, Lake Stevens School District Food & Nutrition Services Assistant Supervisor:
"The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released information regarding an ongoing investigation into an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce. While there have not been any official recalls from our produce suppliers, based on the CDC's recommendations, we are removing all romaine lettuce from our meal service beginning tomorrow 11/21/2018 and have canceled all orders of romaine lettuce until further notice. Student and staff health and safety is our number one priority so we are working closely with our produce vendors to purchase safe alternatives."
SOURCE: CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, Canada, and the FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections.
Advice to Consumers, Restaurants, and Retailers from the CDC:
"CDC is advising that U.S. consumers not eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any, until we learn more about the outbreak. This investigation is ongoing and the advice will be updated as more information is available.”
For more detailed information about this investigation, please visit the CDC website.
April 16, 2018
Chopped Romaine Lettuce, E.Coli Investigation
From Mollie, Langum, Lake Stevens School District Food & Nutrition Services:
"Based on cautionary actions and information communicated to our district from our two food service distributors (Food Services of America and Duck Produce), we made the decision to also act in an abundance of caution not to serve any chopped romaine sourced from Arizona growing areas. We continue to only serve romaine sourced from California, until further notice from our vendors."
January 10, 2018
Romaine Lettuce, E. Coli Investigation
From Mollie Langum, Lake Stevens School District Food & Nutrition Services:
"Based on written statements from the Snohomish Health District, WA Department of Health and our produce vendors, we will begin ordering and serving romaine lettuce again."
January 5, 2018
Romaine Lettuce, E. Coli Investigation
From Mollie Langum, Lake Stevens School District Food & Nutrition Services Supervisor:
"Due to the nature of this ongoing investigation, we have canceled all orders of Romaine Lettuce, until further notice. We are working closely with our produce vendors to ensure there is no identified health risk and we will make substitutions with our products to ensure the health and safety our Lake Stevens students and staff."
SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CDC Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections
CDC, several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7infections (STEC O157:H7) in 13 states. Seventeen illnesses have been reported from California (3), Connecticut (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Michigan (1), Nebraska (1), New Hampshire (2), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), Vermont (1) and Washington (1). Illnesses started on dates from November 15 through December 8, 2017. The Public Health Agency of Canada also is investigating an outbreak of STEC O157:H7 infections in several provinces.
Whole genome sequencing is being performed on samples of bacteria making people sick in the United States to give us information about whether these illnesses are related to the illnesses in Canada. Preliminary results show that the type of E. coli making people sick in both countries is closely related genetically, meaning the ill people are more likely to share a common source of infection.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified romaine lettuce as the source of the outbreak in Canada. In the United States, state and local public health officials are interviewing sick people to determine what they ate in the week before their illness started. CDC is still collecting information to determine whether there is a food item in common among sick people, including leafy greens and romaine.
Because we have not identified a source of the infections, CDC is unable to recommend whether U.S. residents should avoid a particular food. This investigation is ongoing, and more information will be released as it becomes available.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
April 29, 2016
Pilgrim's Pride Voluntary Recall
On the afternoon of April 28, 2016 we were notified by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Child Nutrition State Office to hold all "Breaded Chicken Products" manufactured by Pilgrim's Pride. It is still unconfirmed if our WA commodity processed chicken products are included in the recall or not. These products specifically involve our breaded chicken nuggets and breaded chicken patties. We are following the advice of the state office and until further notice, we are holding all cases and not serving any products in question. We are modifying the menu at all schools, or substituting the products affected, with the Tyson brand.
April 28, 2016
Emailed Alert from OSPI Child Nutrition Office CNS Update: Pilgrim's Pride Recall - Action Required!
We have received notice from Pilgrim's Pride to advise all LEAs in Washington state to hold all Pilgrim's Pride breaded chicken products including W209, W211, and W236.
If you have any Pilgrim's Pride breaded chicken products, please isolate the product until further notice. Commodity items (including Washington processed items) are not believed to be part of this recall, however the company has advised all products be held at this time. Pilgrim's Pride will be providing additional information, which we will share as soon as we receive it.
Questions can be directed to the Food Distribution office at 360-725-6204.
March 16, 2012
Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB)
Also know as "Pink Slime" in the media.
