E. coli Sickens Nine Linked to Franchise

California health officials said on May 22 that an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been linked to beef kofta served at The Kebab Shop, a restaurant chain with locations in Northern and Southern California. The California Department of Public Health said nine California residents had been infected with the outbreak strain as of May 19, with illness onset dates ranging from March 27 through April 30. Six of the illnesses were in children, five people were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths have been reported, and officials said the exposure risk is not considered ongoing after the chain halted sales of the item. ### Which food item is at the center of the outbreak? The California Department of Public Health said interviews with sick patients pointed to grilled beef kofta — seasoned ground beef kebabs — served at The Kebab Shop as the likely source. The agency said the implicated beef product appears, based on current information, to have been distributed only to The Kebab Shop. May 18 is the date The Kebab Shop voluntarily paused sales of grilled beef kofta at all locations, according to CDPH. (cdph.ca.gov) The agency said the restaurant chain is cooperating with state and local investigators as they work to identify the cause of the outbreak and carry out product testing. ### How widespread are the confirmed illnesses? Nine cases across California had been identified by May 19, according to CDPH. (cdph.ca.gov) The state said no people in other states are currently linked to the outbreak. San Diego County said two of the nine cases were tied to locations there. County officials said one of those two patients was hospitalized and later released, but they did not specify which San Diego County restaurants were involved. (cdph.ca.gov) Five counties are tied to the statewide case count, according to San Diego County’s account of the investigation. (cdph.ca.gov) State officials have not, in the public notice reviewed, listed each county by name. ### What are officials telling customers to do now? CDPH said consumers who ate beef kofta from any The Kebab Shop location and became sick within 10 days should contact a health care provider. (nbcsandiego.com) The agency listed diarrhea, often bloody, vomiting and abdominal cramps among the symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection, and said symptoms usually begin three to four days after infection. (fox5sandiego.com) Young children face the highest risk of hemolytic uremic syndrome, the state said. CDPH said most people recover within a week, but some cases become severe enough to require hospital care. ### What has the company said? Arian Baryalai, chief executive of The Kebab Shop, said in a statement carried by NBC 7 San Diego that the company “immediately stopped all sales” of ground beef, or beef kofta, nationwide on May 18 after CDPH linked the product as a potential source. (cdph.ca.gov) He said there is “no ongoing risk associated with this issue” and that other proteins sold by the chain come from different suppliers. The company also said restaurants inspected during the investigation were found in compliance with health and safety rules, according to NBC 7 San Diego’s report on the statement. Baryalai said the chain had set up a guest hotline and email for customers seeking information. ### What are investigators still trying to determine? (nbcsandiego.com) CDPH said the investigation is continuing to identify the cause of the outbreak, monitor for additional illnesses and conduct product testing. The agency’s notice stops short of naming a specific upstream supplier or saying whether contamination occurred before the product reached restaurants. May 23 through May 24 are the dates The Kebab Shop said its customer hotline would remain staffed through the Memorial Day weekend. (nbcsandiego.com) State and county health agencies said they will continue posting public guidance as the investigation develops. (cdph.ca.gov)