The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has placed a temporary restriction on the importation of Romaine Lettuce.
The Institute said that it will not be issuing import permits and will be recalling all permits issued within the past three months for the commodity owing to the outbreak of Escherichia coli (E.Coli).
E. Coli is a bacterium commonly found in the gut of warm-blooded organisms. Most strains of E. coli are not harmful but are part of the healthful bacterial flora in the human gut. However, some types can cause illness in humans, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and sometimes vomiting.
The restriction will be removed when Guyana is notified by the United States of America Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that there is no threat to the Romaine Lettuce.
U.S. FDA reported last Wednesday, that there were 23 illnesses. No deaths were reported.
