Nationwide Illness Outbreak Prompts Focus on Leafy Greens

Why it matters locally: California, a major agricultural producer of leafy greens, could see an impact on its farming industry depending on the investigation's findings regarding the outbreak's source and origin.

Federal health officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of a foodborne gastrointestinal illness. The illness has affected individuals in 31 states, leading to 86 hospitalizations. Michigan health authorities identified lettuce or salad greens as a potential source of the illness. Officials have not yet confirmed a specific type of leafy green or a definitive origin point for the wider outbreak.