Costco Chicken Salad Food Poisoning News – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) announced on November 23, 2015, that it is collaborating with other state health departments and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate an E. coli O157:H7 food poisoning outbreak linked to chicken salad purchased at Colorado Costco stores in late October. Utah, Montana, and Washington state have also reported confirmed E. coli cases.
CDPHE Advice for Consumers
The CDPHE advised that if you have eaten the product and feel ill, you should consult with your health care provider. In addition, consumers who purchased Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken – item number 37719 – purchased from Costco in Colorado should throw away the product.
E. coli Cases Have Been Reported In Four States
Four confirmed cases of E. coli food poisoning have been reported in Colorado, including two cases in Jefferson County and one each in Arapahoe and Routt counties. According to the CDPHE, the individuals who were sickened purchased the chicken salad on October 25 and October 26, and became ill between October 28 and November 3. One person was hospitalized as a result of their illness.
Other states reporting confirmed E. coli O157:H7 cases linked to the chicken salad include Utah, Montana, and Washington.
About The Investigation – The source of the contamination has not yet been identified, however, the FDA, USDA-FSIS, CDC, and state health departments are working with Costco to identify the source. According to Alicia Cronquist, epidemiologist at the CDPHE, “FDA reported to us the product has been removed from the shelves and no longer is for sale in Colorado.”
E. coli Food Poisoning and E. coli Food Poisoning Symptoms
Escherichia coli or E. coli is a type of bacterium that lives in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. While many strains of E. coli are harmless, some strains are capable of causing a serious and potentially fatal illness.
Symptoms of E. coli infection may include severe abdominal cramps, diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Sometimes a low-grade fever is present. Children and the elderly are at greatest risk for suffering complications resulting from E. coli infection, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP).
Diagnosing E. coli Food Poisoning – A diagnosis of E. coli food poisoning can usually be confirmed by performing a stool culture, a type of laboratory test that can detect the presence of the pathogenic bacterium in an infected person’s stool.
Contact The Weinberg Law Firm For Food Poisoning Lawsuit Help
The Weinberg Law Firm is currently assisting victims of food poisoning outbreaks nationwide including those sickened in E. coli food poisoning outbreaks. If you or a loved one was sickened and you have a question regarding a food poisoning lawsuit, please call our law firm at 1-877-934-6274. You can also contact us online by using the “Free Legal Case Evaluation Form” found on this page.
