NATIONWIDE -- The Center for Disease Control has expanded its warning about lettuce grown in the Yuma, Arizona, area. 

  • 53 cases of e. Coli reported by CDC
  • Warning now includes whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce
  • The lettuce is believed to be the cause of a multi-state e. Coli outbreak. 

"This warning now includes whole heads and hearts of romaine lettuce, in addition to chopped romaine and salads and salad mixes containing romaine," the CDC posted Friday. 

People are warned to not buy or eat romaine lettuce purchased from a grocery store or a restaurant unless they're sure it's not from the Yuma area. 

The CDC has reported 53 cases in 16 states, with 31 people being hospitalized. 

"The expanded warning is based on information from newly reported illnesses in Alaska. One-hundred-eleven people in Alaska reported eating lettuce from whole heads of romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing regions," the CDC stated. 

For more information about this recall, click here.