The CDC has released the final report on the E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce last fall. “Chain A” has been identified as Schnucks.
There were 58 people sickened in the outbreak from nine states. Romaine lettuce was the likely source of the illness. Contamination probably happened before the product reached retail stores. The outbreak has officially ended.
The number of ill people in each state were:
- Arizona (1)
- Arkansas (2)
- Illinois (9)
- Indiana (2)
- Kansas (2)
- Kentucky (1)
- Minnesota (2)
- Missouri (38)
- Nebraska (1)
Sixty people had originally been identified as being part of the outbreak, but two people were removed from the list when advanced molecular testing revealed the bacteria in their systems was not related to the outbreak strain.
The investigation revealed that 85% of the sick people shopped at “Grocery store Chain A”, which was later identified as Schnucks. Other ill persons had eaten at salad bars at the University of Minnesota and the University of Missouri. “Farm A” supplied the grocery store and the Minnesota food service with romaine lettuce.
