The California company at the center of a multi-state outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 associated with gourmet style, grab-and-go salads and wraps sold at Trader Joe's and other large and moderately sized retail chains is a fast-growing firm that only recently undertook a large expansion to serve a growing market. Now the company, known as Glass Onion Catering and Gourmet Foods, is the focus of investigation by three federal agencies and several state health departments in connection with its recall this week of 181,620 pounds of ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products with fully-cooked chicken and ham that the feds say may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. So far, government officials say there are 22 people in California who have been confirmed as being infected by the outbreak … [Read more...]
More Salads Recalled for E. coli O157:H7 and Outbreak
The FDA has announced that more salads have been recalled that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The original recall was for salads made from products that are regulated by the USDA. This new recall is for salads made without meats. There is an illness outbreak associated with some of these products. The recalled salads regulated by the FDA include 6.0 ounce Delish Greek Style Orzo Salad with UPC number 49022 74630 sold in Northern California Walgreens stores; 6.o ounce Delish Asian Style Noodle Salad with UPC number 49022 74628 sold at Northern California Walgreens, and 11.3 ounce Delish Vegetarian Wrap with UPC number 49022 55349, sold in Northern California Walgreens. Also recalled are 9.0 ounce Classic Greek Salad with UPC number 0083 5794 sold in Northern California and … [Read more...]
CDC Announces Trader Joe’s Salads E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
The CDC has just announced the multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections linked to ready to eat salads sold at Trader Joe's stores, among others. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) testing has found that two ready-to-eat salads, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken, and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken, both sold at Trader Joe's grocery stores, are one likely source of this outbreak. The STEC O157:H7 PFGE pattern in this outbreak is new to the PulseNet database and has never been seen before, according to the CDC statement. A total of 26 people infected with the outbreak strain of this bacteria have been reported in three states. The case count is as follows: Arizona (1), California (22), and Washington (3). Illness onset dates … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Humboldt County, California, 3 Developed HUS Kidney Failure
At least 4 people have been sickened in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Humboldt County, California, according to the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Of those, 3 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli poisoning that causes kidney failure. The first E. coli case was reported in July of this year, the second in the middle of August and the other two in October. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) testing done by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) found that the 4 cases are connected. "PFGE finds the genetic fingerprint of an E. coli isolate," explains Fred Pritzker, a national food safety lawyer who represents E. coli victims. "When people are sickened by E. coli with matching PFGE patterns, it means … [Read more...]
Marin County E. coli-HUS Outbreak That Sickened 6 in September Still under Investigation
In mid September 6 people, including 4 children, in Marin County, Calif., ate something that was contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Four of these E. coli victims were hospitalized, two of them children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Both of these children are out of the hospital, but they will have to live with the long-term risks associated with HUS for the duration of their lives, according to Fred Pritzker, a food safety lawyer who represents people in E. coli and HUS in lawsuits against restaurants, food processors and others. People in three Marin County cities were sickened: Tiburon (3 cases); Inverness (1 case);San Anselmo (1 case); and San Rafael (1 case). The outbreak is still being investigated by County of Marin Health and Human Services and the California … [Read more...]
