E. Coli Sickens 9 Linked to SoCal Restaurant Chain

California health officials said on May 22 that an E. coli outbreak tied to beef kofta served at The Kebab Shop sickened nine people across the state. The California Department of Public Health said the illnesses were caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 and traced the likely source to seasoned ground beef kebabs sold at several locations of the restaurant chain in Northern and Southern California. Five people were hospitalized, two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, and no deaths were reported, the agency said. The Kebab Shop said it stopped selling the product on May 18 and is cooperating with investigators. ### Which restaurant chain did California identify? The California Department of Public Health named The Kebab Shop in a public notice issued May 22. The agency said interviews with sick people indicated that grilled beef kofta served at the chain was the likely source of the outbreak. The Kebab Shop has locations in both Northern and Southern California, and CDPH said the implicated beef product appears to have been distributed only to that chain. (cdph.ca.gov) The agency said the risk of exposure is not ongoing because sales of grilled beef kofta were voluntarily paused at all locations. ### How many people got sick, and how serious were the cases? (cdph.ca.gov) As of May 19, nine California residents had been infected with the outbreak strain, according to CDPH. Illness onset dates ranged from March 27 through April 30, and six of the illnesses were in children. Five people were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a severe complication that can lead to acute kidney failure, the state said. (cdph.ca.gov) NBC 7 San Diego, citing county officials, reported that two of the nine cases were linked to San Diego County locations and that one of those patients had been hospitalized and later released. ### What exactly is beef kofta, and why is it central to the outbreak? (cdph.ca.gov) CDPH described beef kofta as seasoned ground beef kebabs. The agency said consumers who ate beef kofta from any The Kebab Shop location and developed symptoms within 10 days should contact a healthcare provider. Ground beef dishes are often scrutinized in E. coli investigations because bacteria can be mixed throughout the product during processing, though CDPH has not yet publicly identified the precise contamination point in this case. (cdph.ca.gov) The agency said product testing is underway as investigators work to identify the cause. ### What symptoms are officials telling customers to watch for? (cdph.ca.gov) CDPH said symptoms of STEC infection can include diarrhea, often bloody, vomiting and abdominal cramps. The agency said symptoms usually begin three to four days after infection, and most people recover within a week without treatment. Young children face the highest risk of HUS, according to CDPH. (cdph.ca.gov) The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says public health officials investigate E. coli outbreaks to stop additional illnesses and determine how contamination occurred. ### What has the company said since the state warning? 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 (beef kofta) nationwide on May 18, 2026" 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 set up a customer hotline and email address for guests with questions, according to NBC 7. CDPH said the restaurant is fully cooperating with public health officials. ### What happens next in the investigation? CDPH said state officials, local health departments and federal partners are continuing to investigate the outbreak, monitor for additional illnesses and conduct product testing. (nbcsandiego.com) No illnesses in other states had been linked to the outbreak as of May 22, according to the agency. Consumers who still have leftover beef kofta from The Kebab Shop should discard it, CDPH said. (cdph.ca.gov) The agency said people who became sick within 10 days of eating the product should contact a healthcare provider as the investigation moves forward.