Colorado: 4 cases of E. coli linked to Costco chicken salad

Nineteen cases of E. coli in at least four states, including Utah, have been linked to chicken salad sold by Costco, according to health department investigators. Washington has confirmed one case of E. coli O157:H7 from King County, in a person who became ill in late October. Five people had to be hospitalized, and two developed kidney failure, according to the CDC.

The strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can be life-threatening, but no deaths have been reported in the current outbreak. Consumers should not eat and throw away any rotisserie chicken salad from any Costco store in the United States on or before November 20, 2015.

The product is labeled “Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken” and has item number 37719 on the label. In a recent report from the Inquisitr, Chipotle closed several locations in Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, Ohio, California, and NY after people were reporting they were getting sick after visiting the restaurant.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment announced on Monday, November 23, that 4 such cases had been confirmed so far: two in Jefferson County, one in Routt County, and another one in Arapahoe.

Wilson said the salad was made with rotisserie chicken that Costco bought from a Texas company and supplemented with rotisserie chicken cooked at each of its stores.

Costco has removed all that remains of the contaminated product from all its stores in the USA, and stopped production until further notice.

HUS can occur in people of any age, but is most common in young children under five, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

The cases are part of a larger outbreak involving multiple states.

Colorado health officials said all four people reported sick there have recovered. Symptoms include diarrhea, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps, officials said.