Iceberg Lettuce Prices have Skyrocketed After Romaine Lettuce Recall

People had to do without romaine lettuce this Thanksgiving as an E. coli outbreak led to a massive recall removing the lettuce from shelves at grocery stores and other establishments.

According to United States Department of Agriculture data, iceberg lettuce and Boston lettuce has seen its prices grow as much as 168% since the outbreak of e. coli was linked to romaine lettuce.

The cost of a 24-count carton of iceberg lettuce rose anywhere from 168 percent to 119 percent in just a week.

On Nov. 19, one day before the advisory that made everyone fear Romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce sold for $16.56 to $20.85 per carton. By Nov. 21, suppliers were getting in between $36.65 and $39.56 for the same box.

On Nov. 26, the day the advisory was lifted, the price had climbed to $44.35 to $45.65, according to the USDA’s National FOB Review.

Trevor Suslow, the vice president of food safety for the Produce Marketing Association, remarked, “As always seems to happen, there is an initial response when you take a major component out of the marketplace and others start to fill that gap. Prices certainly have taken an increase.”

The Food and Drug Administration has narrowed the source of the E. coli outbreak to six California counties.

“Certainly as romaine is now going to start entering the marketplace for some period of time those that have it, those that are following the new labeling recommendations are commanding a very high price,” Suslow added.
According to recent Nielsen figures, for the 52 weeks ended Nov. 10, U.S. lettuce production was valued at $1.6 billion.