Freshway Lettuce E. coli O145 Outbreak
Outbreak News
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Possibly as many as 36 people, many of them college students, have been infected with E. coli O145, a toxic strain of the Escherichia coli bacterium which can cause serious illnesses. The illnesses are clustered around University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ohio State University in Columbus, Daemen College in Amherst New York, near Bufflalo, and Tennessee Health authorities focused their investigation on food service, and on May 5, Freshway Foods recalled romaine lettuce product due to E. coli O145 contamination.
According to the FDA press release on the recall, the products were branded as Freshway or Imperial Sysco, and distributed to food service, wholesale, and salad bar outlets in Alabama, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The recalled romaine products were also sold for distribution to in-store salad bars and delis for Kroger, Giant Eagle, Ingles Markets, and Marsh stores in the states listed.
According to CDC, the official count of illnesses as of May 13 is 23 confirmed and 7 probable cases in 3 states since March 1, 2010. The state-by-state breakdown is: MI (11 confirmed and 2 probable), NY (5 confirmed and 2 probable), OH (8 confirmed and 3 probable), PA (1 confirmed), and TN (1 confirmed). Among the confirmed and probable cases with reported dates available, illnesses began between April 10, 2010 and April 26, 2010. Infected individuals range in age from 13 years old to 29 years old and the median age is 19 years. Sixty-nine percent of patients are male. Among the 29 patients with available information, 12 (41%) were hospitalized. Three patients have developed a type of kidney failure known as hemolytic-uremic syndrome, or HUS. No deaths have been reported. However, since E. coli O145 is rare and almost never tested for, it is likely that there are many more ill.
E. coli O157:H7 is responsible for most E. coli outbreaks, but as evidenced by this outbreak, not all. For example, more than 300 were sickened and one person lost his life in an E. coli O111 outbreak in Locust Grove, OK in 2008 which was traced to a restaurant, but not a specific vehicle. However, E. coli O157:H7 is the only strain officially listed as an adulterant, and therefore food is only tested for that strain before being release into commerce. This gap in food safety regulation has led Bill Marler to petition the USDA to name six additional strains of E. coli (including O145) as adulterants. The petition is pending.
Anyone in the distribution areas experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection should contact their health care provider and local health department immediately.