The E.coli outbreak linked to ready-to-eat salads made by Glass Onion Catering and sold at Trader Joe’s stores has ended after sickening 33 people in four states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced today. Seven people were hospitalized, two of whom developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
Public health investigators used epidemiologic and traceback investigations to link two ready-to-eat salads, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken, produced by Glass Onion Catering and sold at Trader Joe’s to illnesses in four states. By state the case count was as follows: Arizona (1), California (28), Texas (1), and Washington (3).
On November 10, Glass Onion recalled numerous ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products that may have been contaminated with STEC O157:H7. In total, 181,620 pounds salads and sandwich wraps containing chicken and ham were recalled. The recalled products, bearing the establishment number “P-34221” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were produced between September 23, 2013 and November 6, 2013 and shipped to distribution centers in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Of those sickened, 22 people completed food histories. About 86 percent, said they shopped at Trader Joe’s and 80 percent reported eating the salads. The case patients ranged in age from 2 years to 78 years, with a median age of 29 years. Sixty percent of those sickened were female.
