63 E. coli O157:H7 Illnesses in 26 States Linked to Nestle's Toll House Cookies?
Over the last few weeks we have been investigating E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in several states. All seemed unconnected. However, common food items were uncooked Nestles Toll House Cookie Dough, Strawberries, Fruit Roll-ups and Ground Beef. The vast majority reported eating Toll House Cookies.
We now have reports that federal, state and local health officials are investigating a cluster of at least 63 cases of E. coli O157:H7 in 26 states. Reports indicate the ill people's E. coli O157:H7 isolates share a common genetic pattern and likely a common source.
Hopefully, a link will be made and consumers will be told.
Comments (1)
Read through and enter the discussion by using the form at the endJohn Munsell - June 18, 2009 3:32 PM
Better hope that if a common link is determined, that the product will be under FDA jurisdiction. In spite of its myriad of difficulties, justifiying current legislative activities in WDC, FDA is more successful in tracing back to the ORIGIN of contamination than is USDA/FSIS's meat inspection program. While FDA is being empowered to more closely regulate businesses over which it has monitoring authority, USDA/FSIS is seemingly immune from legislative actions to increase its oversight, successfully asleep at the deregulation wheel. John Munsell