The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing criticism for not publicly disclosing its report about an E. coli outbreak impacting 15 states in November.

According to reports, the outbreak infected 89 people and killed one.

“The outbreak was linked to romaine lettuce — with the first case being recorded in St. Louis County in Missouri in early November 2024 — but the agency was unable to confirm the source in its investigation in a report it made in February,” Fox News reports.

Fox News reports:

In total, 36 people were hospitalized, and 7 people developed Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious kidney disorder. Details about the death are unclear. The E. coli was 0157:H7 — a particularly dangerous strain that can result in severe illness.

About 95% of those infected reported eating leafy greens and 88% of those could recall consuming romaine lettuce, according to the FDA report. The report came to light after NBC News sought a public records request connected with ongoing litigation.

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The FDA traceback led to a single grower and processor, with the romaine traced to a common ranch and lot​. But the agency was unable to confirm the outbreak as connected to that location since there was no infected lettuce left by the time investigators learned where the E. coli was coming from.

Seven subclusters were identified, including at catered events, restaurants and a school.

The FDA then concluded its final report in February but redacted the name of the common ranch it investigated as being the source.

Per NBC News:

According to an internal report obtained by NBC News, the FDA did not name the companies because no contaminated lettuce was left by the time investigators uncovered where the pathogen was coming from.

“There were no public communications related to this outbreak,” the FDA said in its report, which noted that there had been a death but provided no details about it.

Federal officials are not required by law to reveal detailed information about all known outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, and there are reasons the FDA may choose not to publicize an outbreak, including when the cause is unknown or when officials are still working behind the scenes with the companies responsible.

But the FDA had shifted in recent years toward greater transparency in the wake of large-scale outbreaks and heightened public concern about contaminated food, said Frank Yiannas, the former deputy commissioner of food policy and response at the agency.

“It is disturbing that FDA hasn’t said anything more public or identified the name of a grower or processor,” said Yiannas, who was at the FDA from 2018 to 2023.

By declining to name the culprit, he said, the FDA was withholding critical information that consumers could use to make decisions about what they buy. It’s also possible that someone could have been sickened during the outbreak and not have realized the cause, and serious bacterial illness can cause long-term damage.

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