According to the Centre for Disease Control ( CDC) USA, specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of E coli outbreak linked with Wendys’ retail food chain., but many sick people reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania before getting sick. Based on this information, Wendy’s has taken the precautionary measure of removing the romaine lettuce being used in sandwiches from restaurants in that region. Wendy’s uses a different type of romaine lettuce for salads. Investigators are working to confirm whether romaine lettuce is the source of this outbreak and whether romaine lettuce used in Wendy’s sandwiches was served or sold at other businesses. Wendy’s is fully cooperating with the investigation.

CDC is not advising people to avoid eating at Wendy’s restaurants or to stop eating romaine lettuce.

• Wendy’s has taken the precautionary measure of removing the romaine lettuce being used in sandwiches from restaurants in this region.
• At this time, there is no evidence to indicate that romaine lettuce sold in grocery stores, served in other restaurants, or in people’s homes is linked to this outbreak.
• CDC will update this advice if the investigation identifies foods to avoid.

The agency said so far there was no evidence that romaine lettuce sold in grocery stores or other restaurants was tied to the outbreak. Officials were also not advising people to stop eating romaine lettuce or stop eating at Wendy’s.

The first illness tied to the outbreak was reported in late July, and those who became sick ranged in age from three to 94 years old.

Michigan saw a majority of the illnesses, with 58 sick people reported to the agency.

The CDC said that, because many people recover from an E. coli infection without medical care and aren’t tested, the true number of people sickened by the outbreak is “likely higher” than the official tally and the outbreak could be present in more states.

An E. coli outbreak has a wide-ranging effect. Consumers, farmers, and retailers are put in a difficult situation as it spreads throughout the entire food chain. Outbreaks have received increased attention globally as food scientists have become more skeptical of the food consumers eat.

The health protection agency said the source of the outbreak has not been determined but said many of the sick people had reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania before getting sick

So far, 19 people reported falling ill in Ohio, 15 in Michigan, two in Pennsylvania, and one in Indiana, but the CDC said the true number is likely to be higher. There have been no reported deaths linked to the outbreak.

Wendy’s said in a statement that is it “fully cooperating with public health authorities on their ongoing investigation” and was removing romaine lettuce from sandwiches in the region as a precautionary measure. The CDC said it was still working to confirm if the lettuce was the cause. Wendy’s added that the romaine lettuce used in its salads is different from the lettuce in its sandwiches

• Wendy’s E. coli outbreak:

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases of food-borne diseases connected to Wendy’s restaurants have spread, making people ill in six states. According to a report released by the public health department on Thursday, Sept. 1, illnesses have lately been reported in Kentucky and New York. A widespread E. coli outbreak that has sickened 97 individuals is thought to have been brought on by tainted lettuce at the well-known burger business. The CDC previously reported cases in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

According to the agency’s website, “A specific food has not yet been proven as the source of this outbreak, but several affected persons reported eating burgers and sandwiches containing romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants before falling sick.” In Kentucky and New York, there have been between one and five cases documented; however, public health officials believe that the actual number of cases is likely greater because some patients recover and don’t get tested for the bacteria.

A statement released by Wendy’s on August 19 stated that the fast-food chain is “completely cooperating” with the CDC’s investigation into the multi-state incident and that several jurisdictions have banned lettuce from sandwiches. The eatery claimed that the lettuce it uses for salads is distinct and unaffected by this activity. As a business, we’re dedicated to preserving our strict standards for food quality and safety. According to the CDC, reports of sick diners started to surface in late July. Ten individuals contracted a serious sickness, and at least 43 people were admitted to hospitals. No deaths have been reported. Symptoms of E. coli infection include Stomach cramps Diarrhea Vomiting Fever.

• HelloFresh meal kit has been linked to an E. coli outbreak:

To look into a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health and regulatory authorities in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are gathering various types of data.

Epidemiologic and traceback information reveals that certain ground beef offered in HelloFresh meal packages sent directly to customers may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and have caused illness.

Seven cases of the epidemic strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been documented as of September 12, 2022, from six different states.  Illnesses began between June 8, 2022, to August 17, 2022.

The median age of sick people is 25, they range in age from 17 to 69, and 57% of them are men. Six of the seven persons about whom we have information have been hospitalized, but none of them have experienced hemolytic uremic syndrome, a dangerous illness that can result in kidney failure. No fatalities have been noted. People are being questioned by state and municipal public health officials about the meals they consumed the week before becoming ill. Six people were questioned, and six of them (100%) admitted to consuming ground beef from HelloFresh meal kits.

PulseNet technology is being used by public health investigators to find illnesses that might be associated with this outbreak. A national database of the DNA signatures of bacteria that cause foodborne diseases are managed by CDC PulseNet. Bacteria are subjected to DNA fingerprinting using a technique called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS revealed that the germs in the samples from unwell persons are genetically linked. This indicates that the same food was probably the source of the illnesses in this outbreak.

The USDA-FSIS traceback revealed that some sick persons consumed ground beef from HelloFresh meal kits made at establishment M46841. The components used to make the ground beef are still being traced back by the USDA-FSIS.

If someone has frozen any of the ground beef from the HelloFresh meal kits sent between July 2 to July 21, 2022, the CDC advises checking their freezer. If it contains “EST.46841” inside the USDA inspection mark and “EST#46841 L1 22 155” or “EST#46841 L5 22 155” on the package side, do not consume it.

 

CDC guidance for  E coli prevention from Food

• Know your chances of getting food poisoning. People with higher chances for foodborne illness are pregnant women, newborns, children, older adults, and those with weak immune systems, such as people with cancer, diabetes, or HIV/AIDS.
• Practice proper hygiene, especially good handwashing
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and changing diapers.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before and after preparing or eating food.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with animals or their environments (at farms, petting zoos, fairs, even your own backyard).
  • Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing and feeding bottles or foods to an infant or toddler, before touching an infant or toddler’s mouth, and before touching pacifiers or other things that go into an infant or toddler’s mouth.
  • Keep all objects that enter infants’ and toddlers’ mouths (such as pacifiers and teethers) clean.
  • If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (check the product label to be sure). These alcohol-based products can quickly reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations, but they are not a substitute for washing with soap and running water.
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• Wash fruits and vegetables well under running water, unless the package says the contents have already been washed.

• Cook meats thoroughly:
  • To kill harmful germs, cook beef steaks and roasts to an internal temperature of at least 145°F (62.6˚C) and allow to rest for 3 minutes after you remove the meat from the grill or stove.
  • Cook ground beef and pork to a minimum internal temperature of 160°F (70˚C).
  • Always use a food thermometer to check that the meat has reached a safe internal temperature because you can’t tell whether meat is safely cooked by looking at its color.
• Don’t cause cross-contamination in food preparation areas. Thoroughly wash hands, counters, cutting boards, and utensils after they touch raw meat.
• Avoid  raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products and unpasteurized fruit juices ( such as fresh apple cider)