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Multistate E. coli outbreak linked to Costco rotisserie chicken salad
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Nineteen cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection, including five hospitalizations, are possibly linked to a celery and onion diced blend used to make Costco rotisserie chicken salad, according to the CDC.
Based on available data, 14 (88%) of 16 ill people purchased or consumed rotisserie chicken salad from Costco the week before illness onset, which ranged from Oct. 6 to Nov. 3. Two ill patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure. No deaths were reported.
As of Nov. 27, one case each was reported in California, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state; four cases were reported in Colorado; five cases in Utah; and six cases in Montana.
Researchers at the Montana Public Health Laboratory identified E. coli O157:H7 in the celery and onion diced blend, produced by Taylor Farms Pacific Inc., through DNA “fingerprinting” with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. As a result, Taylor Farms Pacific voluntarily recalled multiple products containing celery due to possible contamination, and Costco removed all rotisserie chicken salad from its stores and stopped further production until further notice, according to the CDC.
Consumers are urged to throw away any rotisserie chicken salad from a Costco store that was purchased in the United States on or before Nov. 20. State and federal health officials from the CDC, FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service will continue to investigate the outbreak and conduct laboratory surveillance through CDC’s PulseNet to identify and interview people infected with the outbreak strain.