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SALT LAKE CITY — A California fruit and vegetable producer is recalling assorted salad and sandwich products in more than a dozen states.
The recalls are coming in light of an investigation into how 19 people, including five in Utah, were sickened by E. coli.
Officials from the Utah Department of Health said Tuesday they were investigating the E. coli outbreak that seemed to be linked to chicken salad from Costco. People in Colorado, Montana and Washington were also sickened, and five were hospitalized.
Preliminary test results from the Montana Public Health Laboratory showed the presence of E. coli in the celery and onion blend used to make the chicken salad, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The company that produced the celery and onion blend — Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. — voluntarily recalled 71 products that contained celery on Nov. 26.
The products were being sold by many large retailers, including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Safeway/Albertsons.
Among them are items such as "Asian Chopped Round Toss Up Salad," "Cheesy Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad" and celery stick trays.
Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. said in its press release that it was voluntarily recalling the products "out of an abundance of caution."
Rebecca Ward, a health educator with the Utah Department of Health, said no additional cases have been reported in Utah.
"Utah is also conducting testing on the celery and onion mix for E. coli," Ward said.
About E. coli
People usually get E. coli by eating food containing the bacteria, which lives in the intestines and can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and respiratory illness. Symptoms usually appear within two to 10 days.
The strain found in this case, O157:H7, is one of the most dangerous and can lead to bloody diarrhea and death.
Email: dchen@deseretnews.com Twitter: DaphneChen_
