A sample taken randomly of River Ranch Fresh Foods romaine lettuce tested positive for salmonella. The company, based in Salinas, issued the recall voluntarily on November 4 as a precautionary measure. Their romaine lettuce heads were bulk-packed into 24-count cartons with a lot code of 13816291, said a news release by the California Department of Public Health.
The heads of lettuce were distributed to 36 restaurant and food service clients in California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay area. Six were located in Fresno. The product was distributed to other states as well. No illnesses have so far been reported. The cases of potentially contaminated lettuce were distributed from October 23-26.
As a personal injury lawyer in Riverside, I am glad no reports of food poisoning have occurred. I encourage seeking medical attention if you feel you’ve been endangered by food borne illness. Symptoms of this potentially fatal illness include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, chills, muscle pains and blood in the stool. If left untreated, severe dehydration caused by diarrhea and vomiting can be fatal. Those with weaker immune systems such as pregnant women, elderly individuals and children are more susceptible to serious complications associated with salmonella. People with HIV/AIDS, diabetes, cancer, and kidney disease are also at higher risk.
