E. Coli Recall Expands to Chains in 12 States, Including Starbucks

An E. coli recall connected with California supplier Taylor Farms Pacific has been expanded to a dozen states and includes food items being sold at Albertson's, Safeway, Sam's Club, 7-Eleven, Target, Walmart and Starbucks.

Taylor Farms was the source of contaminated celery that led to a Costco chicken salad recall last week, reported CNN Money, and on Tuesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the recall to other outlets.

"The products … are being recalled out of an abundance of caution 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," said the FDA website. "The Celery and Onion Diced Blend tested by the state of Montana was used in a Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad that has been linked to a multi-state E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 19 people were infected in seven states from eating Costco's chicken salad.

"Consumers who purchased rotisserie chicken salad from any Costco store in the United States on or before Nov. 20, 2015, should not eat it and should throw it away," said the CDC website.

"This investigation is ongoing. CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify any additional ill persons and to interview them." 

The food items were distributed in the western United States but stores in Georgia, Arkansas, Nebraska and Hawaii are also affected by the recall, said CNN Money. More than 45,000 Starbucks holiday turkey sandwiches distributed in California, Oregon and Nevada were also included in the recall.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is still recovering from a recent E. coli scare at 17 of its restaurants in six states, reported Motley Fool. Some 45 people were believed to be affected by food from the restaurants, including 26 in Washington state and 13 in Oregon.

Chipotle closed stores in the affected regions, deep cleaned the facilities and replaced ingredients.

Related Stories:

• Chipotle E Coli Outbreak: 22 People Sickened, 43 Chains Closed in WA, OR
  
• Costco E Coli Outbreak: Tainted Chicken Salad Sickens 19 People