California reports E. coli linked to Kebab Shop

California health officials said on May 22 that they were investigating an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 tied to beef kofta served at The Kebab Shop, a fast-casual chain with locations in Northern and Southern California. The California Department of Public Health said nine California residents had been infected as of May 19, with illness onset dates ranging from March 27 through April 30. Five people were hospitalized, two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, and no deaths had been reported. The chain said it stopped selling the implicated ground beef product on May 18. ### Which food is at the center of the outbreak? CDPH said interviews with sick people indicated that grilled beef kofta — seasoned ground beef kebabs — served at The Kebab Shop was the likely source of the outbreak. The agency said current information suggested the implicated beef product was distributed only to The Kebab Shop. The Kebab Shop said CDPH had linked the cases to ground beef sourced from a single supplier that had previously been used at its restaurants. (cdph.ca.gov) The company said all other proteins came from different suppliers and were not associated with the outbreak. ### How many people are sick, and who has been hit hardest? Nine California residents had been infected with the outbreak strain as of May 19, according to CDPH. (cdph.ca.gov) Six of the illnesses were in children, the state said, and symptoms can include diarrhea, often bloody, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Two patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, a severe complication that can lead to acute kidney failure, CDPH said. (thekebabshop.com) The agency said young children are at highest risk of developing HUS. ### Where in California have cases been confirmed? San Diego County said on May 22 that two local people had been infected with STEC after eating at county locations of The Kebab Shop. (cdph.ca.gov) One of those patients was hospitalized and later released, county officials said. County officials said the statewide total stood at nine cases across five counties. (cdph.ca.gov) CDPH’s public notice said no individuals from other states were currently linked to the outbreak. ### Is the risk still ongoing for customers? CDPH said the risk of exposure to the beef kofta product was not ongoing because The Kebab Shop had voluntarily paused sales of grilled beef kofta at all locations on May 18. (countynewscenter.com) The agency nevertheless told consumers to discard any leftover beef kofta from the chain and contact a healthcare provider if they became sick within 10 days of eating it. The Kebab Shop said it had “immediately stopped all sales” of ground beef nationwide on May 18 and set up a customer line at 888-965-5821 and an email address for questions. The company said the line would operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific time, including through the Memorial Day weekend of May 23-24. ### What are health agencies doing next? CDPH said it was working with local health departments and federal partners to identify the cause of the outbreak, monitor for additional illnesses and conduct product testing. (cdph.ca.gov) San Diego County said its epidemiology unit and Department of Environmental Health and Quality were working with state and federal officials on the local investigation. (thekebabshop.com) Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, San Diego County’s public health officer, said anyone who visited The Kebab Shop between March 27 and April 30, 2026, and later developed stomach symptoms should seek medical help right away. CDPH said consumers who ate the beef kofta and became ill within 10 days should contact a healthcare provider as the investigation continues. (countynewscenter.com) (cdph.ca.gov)