By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterHealthDayMONDAY, March 4, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Salad lovers, take note: Lettuce is more vulnerable to E. coli contamination than other leafy greens, researchers report. Other leafy greens – spinach, kale and collards – are more resistant to E. coli, a bacteria with toxic strains that can cause severe stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. On kale and collards, E. coli grows slower in warmer temperatures, but can survive longer under refrigeration, researchers found. People can protect themselves by rinsing lettuce, Dong said, although she warned that E. coli bacteria tend to attach themselves tightly to lettuce leaves. Consumers also should store their lettuce in the fridge and pay attention to any food safety recalls involving leafy greens, researchers said.

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Persons: Dennis Thompson, ”, Mengyi Dong, Dong, ” Dong, “, Coli, Pratik Banerjee, ” Banerjee Organizations: Microbiology, Duke University in, University of Illinois, USDA, Mayo Clinic Locations: Duke University in Durham, N.C, Urbana, Champaign, University of Illinois Urbana, “, U.S