Coli infections linked to Costco chicken salad

A total of 19 people in 7 states have been sickened by E. coli traced back to Costco’s chicken salad.

Although 19 people were sickened, patients in California, Virginia and Missouri may not be connected to the Costco’s rotisserie chicken salad, Wilson said.

He says one additional test is needed to confirm that the vegetables carried the same E. coli strain connected with the outbreak. All but two have reported eating the chicken salad made and sold by the retailer.

The company uses one supplier for those vegetables in the chicken salad sold in all its USA stores, Wilson said.

Bill Marler, a food safety advocate and attorney, said the E.coli O157 strain associated with the chicken salad tends to have a higher number of people develop kidney failure than the six other strains of E.coli.

Wilson identified the supplier as Taylor Farms in Salinas, California.

Five people have been hospitalized across the nation, including two who developed a type of kidney failure.

“On Nov. 20, Costco reported to the FDA that is was removing its rotisserie chicken salad product from its shelves nationwide and has stopped production until further notice”.

“According to Dana Fejes of the (Department of Public Health and Human Services) Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section, the state is issuing this urgent message to ensure the product is not consumed”, the Montana message states. The CDC said the illness reports began October 6 and involved people from age 5 to 84.

Another recent food borne illness due to E. coli is linked to Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., ranging from the Pacific Northwest other states, the CDC said on Friday. Chipotle voluntarily closed 43 restaurants in Washington and OR after that outbreak.

Health officials urge anyone with symptoms, especially those who have eaten Costco’s rotisserie chicken salad, to see a doctor.

This investigation is ongoing. “Some of them can range from mild symptoms- like abdominal pain, diarrhea- to all the way to kidney failure, possible heart failure, and in very rare cases even death”.

Health officials say the incubation period is three to seven days from the time of exposure.