Chicken salad sold by Costco is believed to be the source of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 19 people in seven states, according to the federal government. Five (29%) people reported being hospitalized, and two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. “No deaths have been reported”, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report. Ill people range in age from 5 years to 84, with a median age of 18.
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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. However, the ongoing investigation has yet to identify the specific ingredient at issue.
Montana health officials issued an “urgent message” to consumers November 24, but it did not specify what ingredient in the chicken salad was suspect.
Contact your health care provider if you think you may have become ill from eating rotisserie chicken salad from Costco. This is not related to the outbreak that happened recently that forced certain branches of Chipotle to close in some states in the Northwest, the news outlet added.
The CDC is advising people through campaigns to drop or throw away the chicken salad recently bought, even after consuming a small amount.
Cases of E.Coli O157:H7 linked to a recall of Costco chicken salad that began in Washington state have reached Utah. That strain was identified as E. coli 026.
More information about signs and symptoms of STEC infection is available on the Signs & Symptoms page.
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14 (88%) of 16 people purchased or ate rotisserie chicken salad from Costco in the week before illness started. The code on the salad that was recalled is 37719, but since the contaminated vegetables could have been used anywhere in the country, do not eat any chicken salad purchased at Costco stores on or before November 20, 2015 as a precaution. Medical help is also advised as soon as possible if they have already consumed the infected food.
