Tanimura & Antle voluntarily recalls single lot of Romaine Lettuce because of possible health risk. Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration

• Lettuce Already Pulled From New Mexico Stores But Consumers Should Check Labels At Home

Santa Fe – The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is alerting residents to a nationwide recall that was issued Sunday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration involving Romaine Lettuce that was shipped to New Mexico

Tanimura & Antle Inc. is voluntarily recalling a single lot of romaine lettuce because it may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. Coli O157:H7).

The affected product is limited to Tanimura & Antle Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine. This product is packed in a plastic bag with the UPC number 0-27918-20314-9 and may have a Best Buy date of “08-19-12.” 

The product was available at retail locations Aug. 2 -Aug. 19, 2012.

NMED has confirmed that 80 cases of the product were sent to the WalMart distribution center in Los Lunas. The product was shipped to any number of 72 WalMart stores in New Mexico, West Texas and Southern Colorado.

All stores have been notified and all remaining product (if any) has been pulled.

Residents are asked to check the label of any Tanimura & Antle Field Fresh Wrapped Single Head Romaine that may still be in their household. If the lettuce matches the UPC number and Best Buy date, residents are encouraged not to consume the product.

NO OTHER TANIMURA & ANTLE PRODUCTS ARE BEING RECALLED.

A total of 2,095 cases of potentially affected product were distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada starting Aug. 2. A total of 1,969 cases were shipped to the following states: AL, AR, AZ, CA, GA, KS, KY, MD, NC, NM, NV, NY, NJ, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA and Puerto Rico.

Importantly, there are no reported illnesses associated with consumption of this product. E.coli O157:H7 can cause a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools.

Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS.)

HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

The recall is being conducted in consultation with the FDA, and is based on the testing of a single random sample by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The affected product was shipped in cases packed in either 12 or 18 heads per case. Retailers and Distributors can identify the affected products through a traceability code label affixed to exterior of the case.

The traceability code label affixed to the exterior of the case is 5417802151. Tanimura and Antle’s #1 priority is food safety, and in an overabundance of caution we are asking that if any of the above Romaine is in the possession of consumers, retailers or distributors, the product be disposed of and not consumed.

Consumers with questions or who would like replacement coupons may call at 877-827-7388, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT, Monday-Friday.