Salads and Sandwich Wraps Recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 Concerns

Last month, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall of almost 200,000 pounds of ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products. The products contain cooked chicken and ham that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The food products were shipped to distributions centers intended for retail sale in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah and Washington. According to the recall announcement, “FSIS began monitoring a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses on Oct. 29, 2013 then was notified by FDA on Nov. 6, 2013 that California authorities had reported case-patients consuming pre-packaged salads with grilled chicken. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FDA, the California Department of Public Health, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Arizona Department of Health Services, FSIS has determined that there is a link between the grilled chicken salads and the illness cluster.”

Hemorrhagic colitis is the name of the acute disease caused by E. coli O157:H7. The illness is characterized by severe cramping and diarrhea. Occasionally vomiting occurs. Fever is either low-grade or absent. The illness is usually self-limited and lasts for an average of 8 days.

One company that has extensive experience with testing food products for microbial contaminants to help prevent outbreaks and costly recalls is EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “At least 32 people are known to have become ill from this latest outbreak of E. coli O157:H7,” said Joy Dell’Aringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Director at EMSL Analytical. “To help prevent outbreaks like this, EMSL provides testing services to identify microbial contaminants at food manufacturing facilities.  If an outbreak has already occurred, EMSL’s services can be used to help identify the source any contamination.”

EMSL has sponsored an online video about E. coli that can be seen at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rlyfc-5fVqI. 

To learn more about testing for microbial pathogens or other food testing services please visit: www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of food, environmental, and materials testing services and products to government agencies, industry professionals and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com