The four Coloradans who were confirmed to be infected with E.coli from Costco chicken salad have recovered, the state Department of Public Health and Environment said Wednesday.
Two cases were found in Jefferson County and one each in Arapahoe and Routt counties, Health officials believe the cases stemmed from Costco’s “Chicken Salad made with Rotisserie Chicken.”
One of the four people was hospitalized, the department said.
Those who fell ill bought the chicken salad on Oct. 25 or 26 and became sick between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3, officials said.
A total of 19 people across seven states were sickened by the bacteria, which experts said have proved more severe than other E.coli strains.
Five people have been hospitalized across the nation, including two who developed a type of kidney failure.
Bill Marler, a food safety advocate and attorney, said the E.coli O157 strain associated with the chicken salad tends to have a higher number of people develop kidney failure than the six other strains of E.coli.
Symptoms associated with this strain of E.coli include diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Most people recover within a week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, but some develop kidney failure in the form of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Authorities have not officially determined the source of the contamination, but Craig Wilson, Costco vice president of food safety and quality assurance, told the Associated Press he was told by the Food and Drug Administration that the strain of E. coli seems to be connected to an onion and celery mix.
One additional test is needed to confirm that the vegetables carried the same E. coli strain connected with the outbreak, he said.
The company uses one supplier for those vegetables in the chicken salad sold in all its U.S. stores, Wilson said.
Wilson identified the supplier as Taylor Farms in Salinas, Calif.
Marler said he believes the chicken is not to blame for the bacteria.
“I am not aware in 25 years of doing this of one chicken outbreak linked to this strain of E.coli O157,” Marler said.
He said another ingredient in the salad that became tainted with animal waste is to blame.
Wilson said there is no problem with the retailer’s rotisserie chicken, which it continues to sell.
The CDC urges consumers who bought the salad on or before Friday to toss the product.
