The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Food & Drug Administration gave food industry associations brief notice Nov. 20 that they were issuing a public advisory telling consumers not to eat Romaine lettuce and food industry not to sell or serve Romaine due to an outbreak of E. coli 0157-H7.

But at least two produce industry associations questioned the overly broad recall, noting that no source has been identified for the outbreak.

“This is an extremely broad warning to consumers to not eat any type of Romaine from any growing region,” according to a statement released by the United Fresh Produce Association. “Despite our urging that industry could clearly identify some sources of Romaine coming onto the market as not related to the outbreak, CDC and FDA also are requesting the voluntarily withdrawal of Romaine lettuce before it enters commerce. Retailers and restaurants are being advised to stop selling any and all romaine lettuce products immediately.”

Illness onset dates of this E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak affecting 32 people in 11 U.S. states range from Oct. 8 to Oct. 31. The outbreak illnesses are occurring primarily in the Upper Midwest and Northeast.

In Canada, 18 people have been affected between the onset dates of Oct. 15 and Nov. 1.

In a Nov. 20 statement, the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association also noted that “no grower, supplier, distributor or brand has been identified,” and that the association “urges the agency to determine the source of the contamination as quickly as possible.”

While expressing concern for those who have been affected by the outbreak, FFVA noted that South Florida’s Romaine harvest season starts in early November, so Florida product was not being harvested when people started becoming ill.

“Safe production and handling of crops is the top priority for growers of Florida produce,” the FFVA statement added. “They adhere to the highest mandatory food safety standards, testing and safeguards to ensure Florida produce is safe. They also open their operations to FDA representatives periodically for inspections.”

“The best way to limit the impact of this outbreak is to solve it quickly,” read the United Fresh statement. “We are working aggressively with stakeholders to try to narrow the source of the outbreak so that FDA can withdraw this comprehensive advisory. If industry members receive a request from a regulator for traceback information, please respond as quickly as possible.

We are working cooperatively with the CDC, FDA and state agencies to ensure public safety and bring Romaine lettuce back on the market as soon as possible.”