A Fresh Express salad kit is linked to a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Canada. Public Health Canada announced the outbreak this morning. The specific product is Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kit, which has been recalled.
We don’t know if this outbreak is linked to the multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in the United States that is associated with romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region. There is another E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Canada that has sickened two people and is probably linked to the U.S. outbreak.
There are 16 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in this outbreak in five provinces. The patient case count is: Ontario (10), Quebec (1), New Brunswick (3), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (1). Illness onset dates range from November 5, 2019 to November 22, 2019. The patient age range is from 11 to 73. Four people have been hospitalized.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a food recall warning for Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad, sold in 315 gram packages. The UPC number on the product is 0 71279 30906 4, beginning with lot code Z. These products have a best before date up to and including 07DEC19. They were sold in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Many of those sickened said they ate Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits before they got sick. More potential sources could be identified as the investigation proceeds.
Do not eat the recalled product. Throw it out if you have it in your home, and sanitize any containers that were used to store the product. If you have any salad kit without original packaging, and aren’t sure if those salads are included in this warning, throw them away as well. And wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling this product.
Symptoms of an E. coli infection include a mild fever, vomiting, severe and painful stomach and abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that is likely bloody or watery. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible.
