An E. coli outbreak linked to salads and wraps produced by Glass Onion Catering and sold at Trader Joe’s and other stores has expanded to include 32 people in four states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven people have been hospitalized, two of whom have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that leads to kidney failure.
The outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 has never before been seen by public health officials. Through epidemiologic and traceback investigations, they have determined that likely sources of the outbreak are 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 stores.
On November 10, Glass Onion Catering recalled these and other ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products that may have be contaminated with the E.coli. Consumers who purchased these products and still have them on hand should not eat them.
Since the last update on November 12, six new cases from two states have been added: five from California and one from Texas. The breakdown of total cases by state is as follows: Arizona (1), California (27), Texas (1), and Washington (3). Some illnesses that occurred after October 26, may not have been reported yet due to the gap between the time a person first becomes ill and the date the illness is reported. This can take two to three weeks.
Those who became ill range in age from 2 years old to 78 years old,. The median age is 29 years old. Most of those sickend are female. Two of the seven people hospitalized have HUS. Between 5 percent and 10 percent of people who contract E. coli infections, develop HUS. If kidney failure develops, treatment includes dialysis and blood transfusions. Other complications of HUS include seizure, stroke and coma.
