A MD E. coli O157:H7 outbreak may be linked to Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad that was purchased from several Sam’s Club locations in that state, according to the Maryland Health Department. Seven people are sick. One person has been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported.
The health department is recommending the consumers not eat Ready Pac Bistro® Bowl Chicken Caesar Salad. The lot number on the product is 255406963, and the best by date is October 31, 2019.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker has represented many clients sickened with E. coli infections. He said, “This is a serious illness. Please see a doctor if you are experiencing symptoms of this infection.” You can contact Fred for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Officials tested unopened salad purchased by one of the patients, and found E. coli O157 in the romaine lettuce used in the salad. In addition to Sam’s Club, these salad bowls are distributed to many other retailers. The notice did not name those retailers.
The investigation is ongoing and more lab tests are pending. The notice states that there have been prior outbreaks of E. coli O157 linked to romaine lettuce. That is certainly true:
- A possible E. coli O157 outbreak was identified last week in Wisconsin through information posted on ProMED-mail. Three women were sick with symptoms of an E. coli infection; they told their doctors they ate salads before feeling ill. Some sources now say there may be as many as 9 people sick.
- An undisclosed E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that was linked to romaine lettuce sickened 23 people in 12 states earlier this year. The FDA didn’t release any information about this outbreak until it was long over.
- An E. coli O157:H7 romaine outbreak in the fall and early winter months of 2018 sickened at least 62 people in 16 states. Twenty-five people were hospitalized because thy were so sick, and two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.
- A huge E. coli O157:H7 romaine outbreak linked to romaine ended in June 2018. At least 210 people were sickened in that outbreak. Ninety-six people were hospitalized, 27 developed HUS, and five people died. In this outbreak, officials found that runoff from a large CAFO got into canal water used to irrigate romaine fields and may have been the pathogen source.
Symptoms of an E. coli O157:H7 infection include severe and painful abdominal and stomach cramps, and diarrhea that is usually bloody and/or watery. These symptoms are so alarming that most people see a doctor if they contract this infection. If a fever is present, it is mild.
If you have been sick with these symptoms three or four days after eating this salad or any salad, see your doctor. E. coli infections can be life-threatening, especially if a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), develops. You may. be part of this MD E. coli O157:H7 outbreak.
