CDC declares 2 Chipotle-linked E coli outbreaks over after 60 cases
Two outbreaks of Escherichia coli O26 infections linked to Chipotle restaurants are now over after causing 60 total cases in 14 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement today.
The total is 2 cases more than an update on Dec 21. The larger outbreak involved 55 people in 11 states, 21 of whom required hospitalization. The vast majority were in Washington (27 cases) and Oregon (13). Patients reported their first symptoms from Oct 19 to Dec 1, 2015.
The smaller outbreak involves 5 patients in Oklahoma (3 cases), Kansas (1), and North Dakota (1). One of the patients was hospitalized. Illness-onset dates range from Nov 18 to Nov 26, 2015.
The CDC said, "The epidemiologic evidence collected during these investigations suggested that a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants was a likely source of both outbreaks. The investigations did not identify a specific food or ingredient linked to illness in either outbreak."
The restaurant chain has also been plagued by local outbreaks of Salmonella and norovirus.
Feb 1 CDC update
Dec 21 CIDRAP News scan on previous update
Nutritional powder recalled over Salmonella cases in several states
Garden of Life, LLC, has voluntarily recalled 30 lots of its RAW Organic Shake & Meal because of cases of Salmonella Virchow linked to the product, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said late last week.
Two instances of the same Salmonella DNA strain were found in Garden of Life's nutrition supplement from two different Minnesota stores since Jan 11, the MDH said in a Jan 29 news release. Both people who were infected, a child and a man in his 30s, have recovered without need for hospitalization. Other cases linked to the product have been reported in six other states—Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oregon, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Utah, the MDH, without specifying the number of cases in each state.
During pre-distribution testing, however, no Garden of Life product tested positive for Salmonella, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a Jan 29 recall notice.
Infection from Salmonella usually resolves itself within 5 to 7 days, and many cases of salmonellosis end up going unidentified and untreated. Still, the MDH urges those who may be at risk and who display symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea to consult with their healthcare provider. In some cases of salmonellosis, symptoms do not show up until a week after infection.
RAW Organic Shake & Meal products with the expiration date of September 2017 or later should not be consumed and can be returned to the store they were purchased at for a full refund, the FDA said.
Jan 29 MDH press release
Jan 29 FDA press release