Here’s an FDA report on a Romain lettuce E. coli outbreak that resulted in 5 deaths. There’s a couple of ways E. coli can get from cow intestines to lettuce: cow manure gets into irrigation canals/streams, and a downstream farm uses that to water their crops; manure used for fertilizer is not properly treated; cows get into farm fields that they shouldn’t be in. Lettuce is particularly susceptible because it is often eaten raw.
Here’s an FDA report on a Romain lettuce E. coli outbreak that resulted in 5 deaths. There’s a couple of ways E. coli can get from cow intestines to lettuce: cow manure gets into irrigation canals/streams, and a downstream farm uses that to water their crops; manure used for fertilizer is not properly treated; cows get into farm fields that they shouldn’t be in. Lettuce is particularly susceptible because it is often eaten raw.