Tainted Celery is behind Costco E. coli Outbreak

A recent E. coli outbreak tied to Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has sickened at least 43 customers who ate at the chain.

The investigation into the outbreak has narrowed the source to Taylor Farms Celery and Onion Diced Blend after Montana health officials reported E. coli 0157:H7 in a sample of the product tested.

According to Costco, based in Issaquah, WA, the company only uses one supplier for the vegetables in its chicken salad sold in stores throughout the entire country. Although no reports of deaths have occurred, this specific type of bacteria is particularly life-threatening, specifically to children.

The outbreak was reported in Montana, Utah, Colorado, California, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cars fill the parking lot of a Costco store, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, in Seattle.

The potentially tainted products include Taylor Farms Celery Sticks, Italian Chopped Salad, Chicken Salad Mix, and Fruit Waldorf Salad Mix.

Mr. Wilson said in his statement: “This is wonderful news”. Two years ago, a Costco store in California was linked to cooked rotisserie chicken contaminated with salmonella. A message left with the FDA was not immediately returned.

If you have Costco chicken salad in your fridge, you may want to check the container. Tauxe says they have all been told they are getting better.

It takes an average three- to- four days for symptoms to show, though people typically can get sick anytime between two and eight days.

Health officials urge anyone with the symptoms, especially people who have eaten Costco chicken salad, to go to their doctor.