A warning was issued yesterday over romaine lettuce after an E. coli outbreak in the United States.

The Department of Health said anyone who has recently bought romaine lettuce originating from the area of Salinas, California, should discard it immediately.

The Food and Drug Administration and Centres for Disease Control in the US have both issued warnings over the lettuce this week.

A health department spokeswoman said: “The department has contacted the appropriate wholesalers and grocery stores locally who have removed all effected stock from their shelves.

“Lettuce from other parts of California and locally grown romaine lettuce is not affected and is still on sale.”

For more information about the outbreak, visit www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigation-e-coli-o157h7-outbreak-linked-romaine-salinas-california-november-2019