FDA Update on Traceback Related to the E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to Romaine Lettuce

The source of the largest outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in more than a decade is still unsolved. It caused tremendous human suffering, many lawsuits, 45% drop in consumption of romaine lettuce. It also resulted in losses to growers, retailers, and restaurants. The FDA (@https://blogs.fda.gov/fdavoice/index.php/2018/05/fda-update-on-traceback-related-to-the-e-coli-o157h7-outbreak-linked-to-romaine-lettuce/?utm_campaign=FDA%20Voice%20FDA%20Update%20on%20Traceback%20Related%20to%20the%20E.%20coli%20O157%3AH7%20Outbreak%20Linked%20to%20Romaine%20Lettuce&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua) in their letter shows their approach to traceability. As shown in the image, it is designed to find points of convergence from several well-identified clusters of illness with a common point of exposure, such as a restaurant or grocery store. When that point of convergence is identified, efforts can then focus on how the contamination occurred at that location. However, this effort did not yield the desired results. Perhaps the effort should focus on the reduction of the chances of a new one happening.