In the wake of this week's Health Canada advisory about romaine lettuce and possible E. coli contamination, there are signs that the price of other kinds of lettuce is spiking in Montreal grocery stores.
Ali Nassirian, the owner of Fruiterie Monkland in N.D.G., says he's seen a dramatic change on his bill since the beginning of the week.
"Prices of the other lettuce went up so fast because of the shortage of romaine," he says. "$20 difference per box."
Leafy Green lettuce, he says went from $32 a box on Monday to $59 on Thursday — which translates to roughly a dollar per head.
There are suggestions, too, that the American Thanksgiving holiday could be compounding supply shortages. Nassirian says there was a similar price increase around this time last year, but adds that this year's increase was particularly sudden.
With Romaine being taken off the shelves, the prices of other types of lettuce are going up. Fruiterie Monkland owner says these lettuce heads were going for $1.99 at the beginning of the week #CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/v2Jltwb04O
— Matt Gilmour (@MGilmourMTL) November 23, 2018
Health Canada's advisory was issued on Tuesday afternoon, on the heels of a warning from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control about E. coli contamination of romaine lettuce that has led to at least 32 Americans getting sick in nearly a dozen states.
On Friday afternoon, the Public Health Agency of Canada raised the number of people who've fallen ill because of E. coli in romaine lettuce to 22 — 17 Quebecers, four Ontarians and one person from New Brunswick. A total of eight Canadians have been sent to hospital.
Health Canada's advisory was not a recall order, and some supermarkets have not yet pulled the romaine lettuce off their shelves.
On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested the E. coli outbreak may have originated in California.
CJAD 800's Matt Gilmour contributed to this report.
Restaurants also subbing in Other lettuce for Romaine, putting strain on supply. Hearing that the wholesale prices are up by as much as $30 per box from Tuesday. #CJAD800
— Matt Gilmour (@MGilmourMTL) November 23, 2018