FDA Withheld Details of Deadly E. coli Outbreak in 15 States—What We Know

An outbreak of E. coli linked to romaine lettuce infected at least 89 people across 15 U.S. states in November 2024, hospitalizing more than a third and resulting in one death. Victims ranged widely in age. A 9-year-old boy in Indiana nearly died from kidney failure, while a 57-year-old woman in Missouri became seriously ill after eating lettuce at a funeral lunch.

Why It Matters

Despite the severity of the outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) never made a public announcement. According to an internal report, the investigation was closed quietly in February 2025 without identifying the source or naming the companies responsible for growing or processing the contaminated lettuce.

What To Know

The FDA has since confirmed that it did not release information about the outbreak because, by the time it determined the likely source, the contaminated lettuce was no longer available in stores. Without actionable advice for consumers, the agency decided not to issue a public warning.

"There were no public communications related to this outbreak," the FDA stated in the internal report. A spokesperson later added that the agency only names firms when there is clear evidence and a public health action can be taken—such as avoiding a specific product or recalling it from shelves.

What People Are Saying

Some experts disagree with the FDA's decision not to inform the public. Frank Yiannas, who served as deputy commissioner of food policy at the FDA from 2018 to 2023, called the lack of transparency "disturbing."

"It is disturbing that FDA hasn't said anything more public or identified the name of a grower or processor," said Yiannas.

Sandra Eskin, a former Department of Agriculture official and now a food safety advocate, echoed those concerns. "People have a right to know who's selling contaminated products," she said.

What Happens Next?

The agency's ability to share information may also be affected by recent staffing cuts. The FDA's public engagement team for food safety has been largely dismantled as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump's administration to reduce the size of the federal government.

"We no longer have all the mechanisms in place to learn from those situations and prevent the next outbreak from happening," said Taryn Webb, who led that division until being laid off.

Meanwhile, the administration has also delayed a new federal rule that would require food companies and grocery stores to quickly trace and remove contaminated food from shelves.

The FDA said the delay is to help ensure better industry compliance.

For now, critics say the public remains uninformed—and potentially unprotected.