A deadly E. coli outbreak hit 15 states, but the FDA chose not to make the details public

In November, a significant E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce affected 15 states, resulting in dozens of illnesses, including a near-fatal case in a 9-year-old and one death. The FDA closed its investigation in February without public disclosure of the responsible companies, citing the absence of contaminated lettuce by the time the source was identified. Critics argue that withholding such information undermines consumer safety, while the FDA maintains that it acts according to evidence and the timing of outbreaks.