Is it safe to eat lettuce amid E.coli outbreak?

Source: CNN Health

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently expanded its list of states that might be affected by the latest E. coli outbreak linked to lettuce. Although only 23 people have become sick in this latest outbreak, the prevalence of this potentially deadly food-born illness over the last 15 years has many consumers concerned about what lettuce and other leafy greens are really safe to eat anymore.

The conclusion of most microbiologists and food safety experts, however, is not to stop eating leafy greens altogether, but rather, to make better choices about the type of leafy greens that you buy. Whenever possible, consumers should by whole lettuce and cut it themselves. To take extra precautions, the outer leaves can be thrown out since that is often the location where bacteria resides.