Can You Wash E. Coli Off Your Romaine Lettuce?

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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard about the major romaine lettuce issue that’s been freaking everyone out — but don't be so fast to blame the lettuce!

"It's really not the lettuce's fault — it's the livestock," Dr. Oz explains. "We use 85 percent of all the antibiotics in America on cattle — to help them grow faster [and] to deal with factory-forming habits."

The downside? The cows then get a bacteria in their gut: E. coli, which — after going No. 2 — can get transferred to the water supply and go into plants like lettuce.

MORE: Salmonella Egg Recall Health Tips: How to Cook Your Eggs to Make Sure They're Safe

Which leads us to the E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce.

Which begs the question... can you wash E. coli off lettuce?

Answer: Probably not.

As The New York Times reported, "It only takes a few cells of E. coli to make you sick, so while washing produce lowers the risk, it doesn’t eliminate it entirely."

As of November 21, 2018, the CDC is "advising that U.S. consumers not eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any, until we learn more about the outbreak. This investigation is ongoing and the advice will be updated as more information is available." Check here for ongoing updates on the E. coli romaine lettuce outbreak from the CDC.

MORE: Can This Paper Help Keep Your Lettuce Fresh for More Than a Week?

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE E. COLI?

Symptoms of E. coli typically begin two to eight days after consuming the bacteria, says Dr. Oz — although most patients become ill three or four days after consumption. Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.

Most people recover in five to seven days. But remember, those most at risk for E. coli illness include the very young, the very old and individuals with compromised immune systems.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO WASH YOUR LETTUCE?

That said, it never hurts to wash your lettuce, as it will help you remove some bacteria, pesticides and dirt. And if you want to know the best way to scrub your lettuce clean, Dr. Oz will show you in the video above! (Which, he notes, will be particularly useful once this outbreak is said and done.)

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