CDC Links E.coli Outbreak To Costco Chicken Salad

The CDC has linked E.coli outbreak in seven states among people who consumed rotisserie chicken salad sold at Costco Wholesale Corp during October and November.

Reuters reported at least 19 people were taken ill and five hospitalized during the outbreak. Two individuals developed kidney failure with risk of permanent organ damage. Food contamination with E.coli bacteria is being blamed for the outbreak.

"The epidemiologic evidence available to investigators at this time suggests that rotisserie chicken salad made and sold in Costco stores is a likely source of this outbreak. The ongoing investigation has not identified what specific ingredient in the chicken salad is linked to illness," CDC said on Tuesday.

The agency said that most of the infections were reported from western United States.

According to Reuters, a salmonella outbreak in nine states was attributed to chicken products sold at Costco last year.

E.coli can cause serious illness in humans, specifically in children, older adults and the immune-compromised. The New York Times reports that the current outbreak is linked to E.coli strain STEC O157:H7, which can be fatal in children.

Costco stopped selling rotisserie chicken salad on November 20.