(WXYZ) — Another multi-state E. coli outbreak has been linked to salad products. This time, it’s a chopped salad kit made by Fresh Express.
The CDC is telling us that this is a different strain of E. coli than the one linked to the romaine lettuce outbreak. But that doesn’t mean the two are not somehow connected. And that’s because the ‘Sunflower Crunch’ salad kit from Fresh Express contains romaine lettuce. Since the contaminated source has not yet been identified, it’s a possibility that officials could trace this back to the romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas, California region that’s been linked to the larger outbreak. But, to be fair, it’s also possible that they could trace it to another growing region or to something else entirely since the investigation is ongoing.
The CDC recommends that you don’t eat any of these salad kits with a best-before date up to December 7. And to look on the bag for the UPC code. If you see the number 0 71279 30906 4, with a lot code beginning with “Z,” then you should toss it out. Even if you’ve already eaten some of it, please don’t take the risk. Because one of the people who got sick developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is a type of kidney failure that can be life-threatening.
It can take anywhere from 2 to 8 days to get sick once the germ has been swallowed. You’ll want to keep an eye out for symptoms like severe stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. And if you’ve eaten this product and develop any of these symptoms, please see your family doctor. And that’s because of the potential for kidney failure with E. coli infections.
