The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced an E. coli outbreak that infected at least 17 people in eight states.
According to the CDC, the E. coli outbreak has infected at least 17 people including seven hospitalizations in eight US states. These states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Montana, Washington and Wisconsin.
While no deaths have been reported, two of those hospitalized have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure known to be associated with this particular type of bacteria, E. coli O157:H7.
This bacteria produces a toxin that leads to symptoms, including  bloody diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, typically within several days of infection. These symptoms can be resolved within a week but they can sometimes get worse and last longer.
Maryland health officials have discovered E. coli in an unopened package of a Ready Pac brand chicken Caesar salad in one patient's home and are investigating whether this is genetically related to the bacteria causing the outbreak. The CDC are asking people not to eat or sell this product with a "Best By" date of October 31.
Bonduelle Fresh Americas, the product's manufacturer, released a statement saying that the salad in question is Ready Pac Foods Bistro Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics Caesar Salad 2/6.25oz, lot no. 255406963, UPC# 7774527249, which was sold only at Sam's Club.
The company added: "We continue to work with all regulatory agencies to trace the origin of this contamination as quickly as possible to reduce potential impacts to consumers." However, the company argued that it conducts tests on all of its leafy green vegetables and that at the time, it did not have any positive test results for E. coli O157:H7.
Investigations are still being undertaken by the CDC to determine whether there are other products that may be connected to the outbreak.
