E. Coli Outbreak Spurs Packaged Salad Warning

TUESDAY, Dec. 10, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- The likely source of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened eight people in three states is Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday.

As of Dec. 9, there have been four cases of E. coli O157:H7 in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin and one in North Dakota. Three people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The illnesses developed between Nov. 5 and Nov. 15, 2019.

Consumers should not eat, and restaurants and retailers should not serve Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits with UPC 0 71279 30906 4, beginning with lot code Z, and a best before date up to and including 07DEC19, the FDA said.

This notice has also been issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

This E. coli strain affecting patients in this outbreak is different from the strain of the larger E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from Salinas, Calif., according to the FDA.

The agency noted that the romaine lettuce in the affected Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits may have come from the Salinas area, but the romaine and other ingredients in the kit may have come from another growing region as well.

The source of the ingredients in the salad kits is being investigated and health officials are trying to determine which ingredient may have been contaminated with E. coli.

Further information will be provided as the investigation progresses, the FDA said.

Eating or drinking food or water contaminated with certain types of E. coli can cause mild to severe gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms such as severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea and/or vomiting beginning from a few days to as many as nine days after consuming contaminated food.

In some cases, E. coli infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to serious conditions such as kidney failure, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and neurologic problems.

People who suspect that they have an E. coli infection should contact their health care provider, the FDA advised.

More information

There's more on E. coli at foodsafety.gov.