Centre for Food Safety

Romaine lettuce

All romaine lettuce harvested in California, US

• The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said that the import into and sale in Hong Kong of romaine lettuce harvested in California, the United States (US), has been suspended with immediate effect, in the light of the latest information announced by the US authorities concerned on the incident of US romaine lettuce suspected to be contaminated with Escherichia coli (E. coli). The outbreaks of E. coli infection were likely linked to romaine lettuce harvested in California, US.

• The CFS has been closely following up on the US romaine lettuce incident and has earlier held all romaine lettuce from the US and Canada for testing at the import level.
• In light of the latest information announced by the US authorities, the CFS has decided to immediately suspend the import into and sale within Hong Kong of romaine lettuce harvested in California, US.
• The CFS will continue its surveillance of romaine lettuce harvested in other areas of the US at import and retail levels to safeguard food safety.
• The CFS has informed the US authorities concerned of the import suspension and will alert the trade. It will continue to closely monitor the latest developments of the incident and take appropriate follow-up action. Investigation is ongoing.

• The CFS urged the trade to stop using and selling romaine lettuce harvested in California immediately should they possess it.

• The CFS urges the public not to consume romaine lettuce from California and unknown sources.

The CFS press release