The Food and Drug Administration will initiate a testing program to evaluate the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) and Salmonella on harvested lettuce.  Samples will be collected from commercial coolers in the Yuma Valley growing region during February.  The program will comprise 500 samples each comprising 10 subsamples of 300g of Romaine lettuce. 

It is intended to indirectly evaluate the potential contamination from different farms as delivered to central coolers before packing and shipment.  There is no obligation for companies to hold batches of lettuce until results are obtained.  The FDA noted that the activity will "help to ensure the safety of leafy greens that continues to be a priority of the FDA".  The survey is consistent with the Leafy Greens Action Plan intended to determine factors that contribute to foodborne transmission of pathogens.