Costco pulls chicken salad off shelves due to E. coli

Those who bought the chicken salad are being told to discard it, The Associated Press reports. The strain involved in the outbreak is E. coli O157:H7.

The Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the cases.

Officials said you should either return it to the Costco store where it was purchased or throw it away.

If you have recently eaten Costco chicken salad and are now experiencing these symptoms, consult your health care provider.

The Colorado Department of Health and Environment said the four people became ill between October 28 and November 3. One person was hospitalized. However, all have since recovered.

Along with Costco, the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, as well as the CDC, are all diligently working to uncover where the contamination came from.

The store has pulled the product from shelves, according to a news release from the state health department.

“Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken” – item number 37719 – is being recalled due to E. coli concerns.

So far, cases have been reported in seven states, including five cases in Utah.

Antibiotics and antidiarrheal medicines should not be given unless E. coli is ruled out, since they may increase the risk of HUS in people with E. coli infections. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe, resulting in a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).