Alberta romaine lettuce greenhouse says it prevents E. coli contamination

An Alberta romaine lettuce grower says its method of cultivation is an almost sure-fire way to prevent the type of contamination reported recently in the United States and Canada.

Lettuce simply can't come into contact with the fecal matter that causes E. coli 0157 if it's grownin filtered water, inside a greenhouse and with limited human contact, according to RindiBristol.

"The first human touch is at harvest, where our harvest team who is all, you know, donned up in hairnet and smocks and gloves is the first touch," the Whole Leaf Greenhouse senior director told the Calgary Eyeopeneron Monday.

"They're the ones putting it into the sleeve, doing a quick quality check and then it's off to the stores. So essentially, the consumer is the first one to touch it with human hands."

Lettuce and other vegetables can become infected in many ways, including when a farm's soil is contaminated by animal waste or bird droppings fallinto a field.

Cooking a contaminated food can kill the bacteria but lettuce is usually eaten raw.

Contamination is relatively rare, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says, while warning thatif E. coli isconsumed, it can be deadly.

The inspection agency is investigating 22 cases of E.coli infections inOntario, Quebec andNew Brunswick. The lettuce is believed to be connected to contaminated leafy greens grown in California and Arizona. Outbreaks have been traced to several U.S. states, as well.

Whole Leaf Greenhouse, which is based in Coaldale, Alta.,is requesting an exemption from the alert for its Inspired Greens product, Bristol said.

The greenhouse is owned by the Saskatchewan company, Star Produce. Ltd.

Demand 'through the roof'

The company's greenhouse in Alberta cost $60 million but hasonly 14 to 20 staff working in the building at the time.It plans to double production in the new year.

The greenhouse produces between eight and 10 million heads of lettuce a year. The expansion will see that rise to 20 million.

"The demand for our product has kind of gone through the roof and people are looking for alternatives," Bristol said.

Other hydroponic lettuce growers have reported similar boosts in demand during outbreaks.

The CFIA regularlychecks samples of romaine lettuce and pre-packaged salads pre-emptively with no positive results since April 1, 2017. Investigating after the fact can be difficult, according to a statement posted online, as the heads of lettuce are usually sold or discarded by the time someone has eaten it and taken ill.

The agency has increased testingand will include different harvests areas and time periods.

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