Investigations into two of three E. coli outbreaks from this fall have been completed, and although the traceback process led authorities to farms, samples did not confirm link any particular food or source in either outbreak.
The Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 18 reported the investigations were completed, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced two of the three outbreaks were over. The FDA refers to the “Outbreak Unknown Source” 1, 2 and 3. Investigations into outbreaks 1 and 3 are over.
Outbreak 1
The CDC reported 32 people in 12 states became sick in Outbreak Unknown Source 1. The strain of E. coli identified in the investigation is genetically similar to a strain linked to a spring 2018 outbreak from romaine lettuce, according to the FDA. No food source was identified in the recent outbreak, however.
“FDA and state partners also conducted on-site inspections on farms of interest, though information collected in these inspections did not link these farms to the outbreak,” according to the FDA’s update.
Outbreak 3
The CDC reported 18 people in 9 states became sick in Outbreak Unknown Source 3. The FDA identified several potential food sources during interviews with people who became sick, but no farm was identified as a common source.
The FDA and state agencies conducted investigations at “farms of interest,” but information and samples collected did not lead to a source of the E. coli.
“The investigation of a farm does not mean that the farm is linked to an outbreak,” according to the FDA notice. “The results of an investigation into a farm may well lead to that firm being ruled out of the investigation.”
Outbreak 2
The investigation into Outbreak Unknown Source 2 is ongoing, according to the FDA. The CDC reports 39 cases, according to the CDC’s last update, which was Nov. 23. At that time, 22 of the people who became sick had been interviewed, with 16 reporting they ate spinach and 15 saying they ate romaine.
