The CDC’s third fooborne illness outbreak in the last month, an E. coli outbreak, traces to organic packaged salads sold under the store brands of the Kroger and Giant Eagle chains.
Here’s what you need to know, from the CDC's Dec. 30 update:
How widespread is this outbreak?
So far, 13 people have been sickened, four of whom are hospitalized, across six states: Washington (seven), Alaska (two), California, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon (one each). No deaths have been reported.
What packaged salads are involved?
Simple Truth Organic Power Greens, sold at stores in the Kroger chain (Kroger, Harris Teeter, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, QFC and others), and Nature’s Basket Organic Power Greens, sold at stores in the Giant Eagle chain. Six of the people at the Simple Truth greens and one ate the Nature’s Basket greens.
No recall has been issued for either product, although the CDC is advising if you have the packaged salads with a best by date of Dec. 20, 2021, toss them.
Investigators are looking into other brands possibly involved. It’s not uncommon for a food producer to make the same product for numerous brands, sometimes name brands and store brands.
What are some symptoms of E. coli?
Anywhere from one to 10 days after eating the bacteria, but usually three or four days, high fever, stomachaches, vomiting and diarrhea can start. The diarrhea can get bloody. The worst symptom is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that can make E. coli deadly.
