Wendy's is the latest chain restaurant to get hit by an outbreak of E. coli.
So far this week, 97 people have reported falling ill in 6 different states, many of whom reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy's, according to the CDC. More than 40 have been hospitalized.
The agency says it hasn't yet determined which type of food on Wendy's menu is causing the outbreak.
Wendy's could not be immediately reached for comment, but the CDC says that Wendy's has decided to remove the type of romaine lettuce it uses in sandwiches from the affected areas as a precautionary measure.
As of now, the CDC said it is not advising people to avoid eating at Wendy's or to stop eating romaine lettuce, but the agency says it will update this advice as it learns more. Wendy's uses a different lettuce for its salads, the CDC said.
E. coli is a bacterial infection that causes stomach cramps and vomiting, among other symptoms. The CDC says some people develop serious kidney problems that require hospitalization from the bacteria.
Romaine lettuce is often the source of E. coli outbreaks in the US. In 2020, there was a romaine lettuce-linked outbreak that sickened 167 people.
Here are the states affected by Wendy's outbreak and how many cases have been detected there, according to the CDC.