Brad and Kristen Bell tragically lost their 2yearold son, Cooper, to foodborne illness after he ate lettuce contaminated with E. coli.

Some strains of this bacteria, found in fecal matter, can make people very sick. Unfortunately, no amount of washing can remove E. coli from produce once it’s contaminated.

In the United States, E. coli outbreaks are increasing, not decreasing. One reason is the proximity of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), or factory farms, to farm fields.

Manure from these CAFOs can seep into irrigation canals, and contaminated water is sprayed directly onto fields where our food is grown.

Gaps in regulation make this situation even worse. The EPA's agricultural water rule states that water shouldn’t be contaminated, but it relies on selfassessment by farms. The rules are voluntary, and farms aren’t required to test their water for contaminants like E. coli.

We shouldn’t have to worry about the safety of our food. No one should get sick or worse, lose their life because of a salad. It’s time for the FDA to take action and stop bowing to industry pressure.

As a way to channel their anger into something positive, the Bell's started 4 Acres hydroponics lettuce farm in honor of Cooper to provide people with a safe alternative: https://www.4acreshydroponics.com/

You can learn more about the dirty truth behind America’s leafy greens here: https://ewg.life/3ZjFwHO