Costco: E.coli Outbreak Tied to Chicken Salad

Health officials reported that they have identified the source of an E.Coli outbreak in Costco stores in Washington State.

Taylor Farms Pacific of Tracy, Cal.is recalling products that my contain celery contaminated with E. coli.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta said that the multi-state outbreak has sickened people in Colorado, Montana, California, Utah, Virginia, Missouri and Washington. The products are being recalled due to a celery and onion diced blend testing positive for E. coli O157:H7 in a sample taken by the Montana Department of Health.

The company used the mix in other foods that require celery, such as Thai-style salads and packaged dinners that are sold at Costco, Target, and other places.

The product is labeled “Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken” and has the item number 37719 on the label.

The recall was “out of an abundance of caution”, the FDA said in a statement.

Seattle attorney Bill Marler, who is representing people sickened in the Chipotle outbreak, said the problem appears serious because two people have developed kidney failure. It usually clears up in about a week, but in severe cases, it can lead to kidney failure and death.

“They are probably one of the better stores out there, which shows just how vulnerable a supply chain is to E. coli or salmonella”.

Of the 48 million cases of food poisoning reported to the CDC each year, more than half involve fruits and vegetables. Symptoms can include abdominal cramps and diarrhea, which can sometimes be bloody.

Though it’s common for people to have E. coli in their intestines, some forms of the bacteria are unsafe.

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