California company recalls salad mixes in Costco E. coli outbreak

LOS ANGELES Nov 26 A multi-state E. coli outbreak that has sickened at least 19 people who ate rotisserie chicken salad sold at Costco Wholesale Corp’s stores has been traced to a celery-and-onion mix used in the salad, prompting its California maker to recall the product.

San Joaquin Valley-based Taylor Farms Pacific Inc, fresh-cut vegetables and bagged salads producer, said, “Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling more than 154,000 lots of numerous products from various grocery store chains in 17 states, majority in the West”. The items being pulled include snacks, diced celery, celery and onion mix and various mixes and trays, including with chicken, turkey or tuna, sold in Safeway, Albertsons, Costco, Walmart and other stores. A message left with the FDA was not immediately returned.

“The ongoing investigation has not identified what specific ingredient in the chicken salad is linked to illness”, according to FDA’s outbreak report.

Six people got sick in Montana, five in Utah, four in Colorado, and one each in California, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state. Two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), but no death has been reported yet. Anyone who develops gastrointestinal symptoms should see their health care provider.

Wilson said chickens have not been connected to the outbreak, and no other Costco products use the same other ingredients found in the chicken salad.

“The product has since been removed from store shelves”.

Meanwhile, CDC has directed people to throw away the chicken salad and rotisserie chicken salad which they bought before November 20 from Costco stores.

“I think we’re going to learn something important from both ultimately”, he said.