Lettuce that sickened 36 in Michigan came from California

Freep.com

The tainted iceberg lettuce that has sickened 36 people statewide originated in California before being shipped to Michigan, state agriculture officials announced today.

Once in Michigan, the lettuce was sold by local distributors to institutions and restaurants, seeding an E. coli outbreak that started at Michigan State University and Lenawee County Jail in early September before spreading to metro Detroit.

To date, the Department of Community Health has confirmed E. coli O157:H7 in seven people in Macomb County, five in Wayne County and one in Oakland County. The toxic strain causes vomiting, cramps and bloody diarrhea.