Costco E. Coli Outbreak Linked to Taylor Farms Celery

Government health officials indicate that contaminated celery produced by Taylor Farms may be responsible for a nationwide E. coli food poisoning outbreak linked to Costco chicken salad, resulting in a recall for more than 154,000 lots of numerous products containing mixed celery and onion ingredients.

At least 19 people in seven states have been sickened as part of an E. coli outbreak, which was previously linked to rotisserie chicken salads sold at Costco stores.

On November 26, the FDA announced a Taylor Farms Pacific Celery and Onion Diced Blend products recall after routine sample testing by Montana health officials matched an E. coli 0157:H7 sample taken from the products to the same strain of E. coli impacting the Costco rotisserie chicken salads.

The FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were able to determine that the celery and onion products were also distributed to Costco and used in the chicken salad. However, the recall includes a variety of other products that may contain the celery and onion mix, including Thai-style salads, macaroni salads, potato salads, packaged dinners, chicken salads, wraps, holiday turkey stuffing’s and many others.

The recalled products were distributed by Taylor Farms Pacific to a variety of major retailers, including Costco, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Safeway, Target, Starbucks and others.

This particular strain or E. coli typically causes diarrheal illness often resulting in painful bloody stools and lasts about a week for most individuals. It has also been linked to cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a form of kidney failure that is likely to occur in young children and the elderly and can cause death.

The outbreak has already sickened 19 people in Montana, Utah, Colorado, California, Missouri, Virginia, and Washington State according to the CDC. Of the 19, five have been hospitalized and two of those patients have developed HUS kidney failures.

All Costco chicken salad products were removed from stores nationwide last week, and the retailer indicates that it had discontinued the sale and distribution as of November 20. However, the FDA and CDC anticipate more illness reports stemming from the E. coli outbreak.

Costco reported to the CDC that it only uses one supplier, Taylor Farms Pacific, of Tracy, California, to supply its onions and celery used for chicken salads sold in all U.S. stores.

Customers are being urged to discard the affected products even if some has been eaten and no one fell ill. Customers with questions or concerns may call 209-830-3141 for further information. Individuals who have consumed any of the recalled products are being urged to contact their healthcare provider and beware of any symptoms of E. coli infection.