E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Linked to RTE Salads; Multi-Agency Investigation Under Way
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Nov. 10 announced that it is collaborating with public health officials in California, Washington, and Arizona; the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS); and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections. The infections have been linked to ready-to-eat (RTE) salads produced by Glass Onion Catering, a business of RIchmond, CA-based Atherstone Foods. On Nov. 10, the company voluntarily recalled certain prepackaged salads retailed by Trader Joe's and Walgreen's, as well as two bulk-packed salads retailed by Whole Foods Markets.