The CDC and our E. coli Lawyers are investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to packaged certain salads sold at Trader Joe’s and other stores. To date, 26 people have laboratory-confirmed cases: Arizona (1), California (22), and Washington (3). The implicated salads include: Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken.
“Along with my Bad Bug Law Team, I am investigating this outbreak,” said Fred Pritzker, who recently won $4.5 million for a woman who contracted E. coli food poisoning and then developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of E. coli that causes kidney failure and a host of other medical problems. “If you have extreme abdominal cramping or diarrhea after eating a packaged chicken salad, it is extremely important that you get to the doctor as soon as possible.”
The illness onset dates range from September 29, 2013 to October 26, 2013. Ill persons range in age from 4 years to 78 years, with a median age of 28 years. Sixty-one percent of ill persons are female. Among 21 persons with available information, 6 (28%) reported being hospitalized. Two ill persons have developed HUS, and no deaths have been reported.
Epidemiologic and traceback investigations indicate that two ready-to-eat salads, Field Fresh Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken and Mexicali Salad with Chili Lime Chicken, produced by Glass Onion Catering and sold at Trader Joe’s grocery store locations, are one likely source of the outbreak.
According to Fred, this is evidence that can be used in a lawsuit against Trader Joe’s and Glass Onion Catering, the company that made the salads. Glass Onion has recalled approximately 181,620 pounds of ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products with fully cooked chicken and ham because they may be contaminated with E. coli and have been implicated in this outbreak.
The recalled salad and sandwich wrap products were produced between September 23, 2013 and November 6, 2013 and shipped to distribution centers intended for retail sale in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington.
The products subject to recall are regulated by both FSIS and FDA. Products regulated by FSIS bear the establishment number “P-34221” inside the USDA mark of inspection.
