(Photo By Flickr User Ruth Hartnup)

Healthline: Romaine lettuce is not safe to eat, CDC warns in new alert.

Do not eat, serve, or sell any romaine lettuce, the Centers for Disease Control is warning in a new food safety alert posted earlier this week. The advisory comes as health officials in several states and Canada investigate an E. Coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce.

The latest outbreak has sickened at least 32 people in 11 states.

According to WICS-TV & WSYX-TV, The CDC says people who have romaine lettuce in their homes should not eat it and throw it away, even if some of it has already been eaten and no one has gotten sick. The advice applies to whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags or mixes that contain any types of romaine lettuce. They’re also advising retailers and restaurants to not serve or sell any types of romaine lettuce, including salads and mixes containing it.

The Food and Drug Administration says it’s working with officials in Canada, where people are also being warned to stay away from romaine lettuce. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year, which killed five and sickened hundreds, but it appears similar to one linked to leafy greens last year.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the agency doesn’t yet have enough information to request suppliers issue a recall. But he says suppliers can help by withdrawing romaine products until the contamination can be identified.