The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a dire warning on Tuesday afternoon, urging Americans not to eat romaine lettuce in any form because it has been linked to a nationwide E. coli outbreak.
“Consumers who have any type of romaine lettuce in their home should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick,” officials said, noting that retailers should pull romaine from their shelves and restaurants should refrain from serving it until further notice.
Officials said 32 people so far have been affected across 11 different US states, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and New York.
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Here’s a look at which states have been affected, and how many people have fallen ill in each state as of Tuesday evening:
California: 10 people
Connecticut: 1 person
Illinois: 2 people
Massachusetts: 2 people
Maryland: 1 person
Michigan: 7 people
New Hampshire: 2 people
New Jersey: 3 people
New York: 2 people
Ohio: 1 person
Wisconsin: 1 person
The illnesses started on dates ranging from Oct. 8 to Oct. 31, and those affected range in age from 7 to 84 years, with a median age of 24. No deaths have been reported, CDC officials said.
Most people with this type of infection start feeling sick three to four days after eating or drinking something that contains the bacteria. E. coli symptoms can often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some people may also have a fever. Most people get better within five to seven days. Some infections are very mild, but others can be severe or even life-threatening, according to the CDC.