An E.coli outbreak linked to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell and KFC restaurants in Canada appears to be over, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). The outbreak included 30 people from Ontario and the eastern provinces of Canada known as the Maritimes. In New Brunswick, 7 people were sickened, in Nova Scotia 10 and in Ontario 13. The last reported case was January 9. The tainted lettuce, which included hearts of romaine, romaine/iceberg mixes, shredded and chopped iceberg and shredded and chopped romaine was distributed by FreshPoint Inc. to restaurants in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. FreshPoint issued a recall for the lettuce after the problem was discovered. Investigators were able to … [Read more...]
KFC, Taco Bell Lettuce Is Source of E. coli Outbreak In Canada
The source of an E.coli outbreak that has sickened at least 16 people in Canada was lettuce served at Taco Bell and KFC restaurants, health officials in New Brunswick have discovered. The outbreak affected three provinces: New Brunswick, where six people became ill and Nova Scotia and Ontario which each had five cases. “Based on the information we have collected and shared with other provinces, we believe that lettuce has been a common food source among cases,” said Dr. Eilish Cleary, New Brunswick's chief medical officer of health. “Since lettuce has a limited shelf life, it is highly unlikely that some from the affected lots remain in restaurants.” Investigators from three provinces and the Canadian federal government are working together on the investigation. In a statement … [Read more...]