Salad Kit Recall Due to E. Coli Contamination: 8 Cases, 3 Hospitalized
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a recall on Fresh Express salad kits for e. coli contamination. There have been eight confirmed cases of e. coli illness and of those, three have been hospitalized with one patient contracting hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which is a type of kidney failure. This recall initially focused on the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin but now includes Canada as well. The CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are all working together to investigate this multistate (multi-nation) outbreak.
Officials link the e. coli infections to the Fresh Express brand Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad kits with the UPC of 0 71279 30906 4 and the lot codes that begin with “Z” and have the best by date of December 7, 2019. The Fresh Express salad kits have been recalled and grocers as well as consumers that are in possession the product are asked to dispose of the salad kit and not to sell or serve it. The CDC explains on their website that romaine lettuce is one of the ingredients in the recalled salad kit but the investigation is ongoing, and it is unknown yet if this specific outbreak is directly linked to the outbreak of romaine lettuce carrying e. coli harvested in the Salinas, California region.
Symptoms of e. coli disease include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramping. E. coli 057:H7 is among the most common strain to cause severe and potentially life-threating complications (particularly in the immunocompromised) resulting in kidney failure (HUS). If experiencing any symptoms of e. coli, it is safest to contact a health professional to have treatment if needed.
