CALIFORNIA—Nineteen people across seven states have been affected by an E. coli outbreak linked to Costco’s chicken salads, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Costco stated that the warehouse chain currently uses one supplier for its vegetables used in the chicken salad, which is then nationally distributed. Since the E. coli outbreak, Costco stores nationwide have discontinued the chicken salad in their stores. The illness count currently stands at 19, with one consumer from California, Missouri, Virginia, Washington, six from Montana, five from Utah, and four from Colorado.
As of Thursday, November 26, Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. of Tracy, CA, has announced that they are recalling their diced celery and onion mix, which potentially contains E. coli 0157:H7. The FDA announced that the mixture was being recalled as a precaution due to a Celery and Onion Diced blend testing positive for E. coli 0157:H7 in a sample taken by the Montana Department of Health, which was used in a Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad that has been linked to the multi-state E. coli outbreak.
According to the FDA press release, the celery-onion mix is used for over 70 different pre-made food items which are distributed at popular stores across the nation. According to the FDA, in addition to Costco, Taylor Farms also distributes the mix to salads and party trays carried by stores such as 7-Eleven, Walmart, Pantry, Raley’s, Savemart, Albertson’s, Safeway, Vons, Starbucks, Target, Tony’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and King Sooper; all items which have been subject to recall.
A full list of recalled items can be found on the FDA’s website. The FDA has urged all consumers to throw away any products that have been recalled, if still in possession. For further information, consumers are encouraged to contact the FDA between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (PST), Monday through Friday at (209) 830-3141.
