Romaine lettuce back in N.L. stores after E. coli scare, but health agency still cautious

People looking to kick start their New Year's resolutions with some leafy greens can nowfind romaine lettuce back on theshelves at many stores across Newfoundland and Labrador.

Butthe Public Health Agency of Canadais still recommending people consider eating other types of lettuce as it continues to investigate an E. coli outbreak in five Canadian provinces.

• More E. coli infections linked to contaminated romaine lettuce, 1 case fatal
• Sobeys halts sale of romaine lettuce after E. coli warning

Health Canada has identified 41cases across five provinces, including one death, since late November and early December.

Thirteen of the infections havebeen in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The latest update fromthe agency, posted Dec. 28, said the investigation has led it to believe there is a continued risk of E.coliinfection through romaine lettuce consumption.

However, theCanadian Food Inspection Agency, the department testing the lettuce, said none of it has tested positive for E. coli to date.

In stock at stores in St. John's

On Wednesday, romaine lettuce was in stock and plentiful atColemans, Dominion, and Sobeysstores in St. John's.

A sign at Sobeys on Merrymeeting Road datedDec. 29 said the store was resuming sales of the lettuce after being satisfied with the progress of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's investigation.

In a statement, Sobeyshead office confirmed the organization has resumed sales of romaine lettuce nationally after pulling the product from store shelves on Dec. 21.

Officials said they are following the updates from the CFIAand PHAC and that Sobeys will continue to stay close to the investigation as further updates are released.

A spokesperson from Loblawssaid that the company is actively monitoring the investigation andif the products are recalled, the organization will immediately remove and dispose of them.

JimCormier, spokesperson for the Retail Council of Canada, said it's up to individual retailers to decide whether to stock the product.

"We take our lead fromCFIA, so all of the testing that was done over a two-week period has indicated that there was nothing detectedin the samples that they analyzed, and therefore retailers are taking that as their lead to decide individually whether or not they wish to stock that product on their shelves," he said.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials said if a specific product is identified as a risk to consumers, they will issue a food recall warning to the public.