Report: E. coli outbreak in July tied to lettuce
Lettuce was the likely cause of an E. coli outbreak that sickened 94 people eating at a southwest Valley Federico’s Mexican Food restaurant, according to a report released this week by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
The outbreak occurred between July 18 and 31 at the Federico’s, 13132 W. Camelback Road near Litchfield Park.
According to the report, the specific source of the bacterial exposure is uncertain, but lettuce is the most likely culprit.
“The lettuce could have been contaminated in the field from manure, or (from) contaminated irrigation water, during processing, transport, handling, or through improper storage,” the report states. “Improper lettuce washing and preparation at the restaurant may have contributed to the spread of disease. The restaurant corrected these processes and complied with all other recommendations and no new cases were identified, effectively ending the outbreak.”
Midwest Beef, the Phoenixbased supplier that provides meat and produce to the restaurant, also delivers food to other Federico’s locations in Phoenix, as well as to other eateries in the Valley, the report says.
However, no confirmed cases of illness were recorded at other local restaurants. That could mean that the source of the E. coli exposure occurred at the restaurant from an ill food handler, although no employee illnesses were reported at the restaurant during July, the report says.
Narrowing to the exact cause is difficult. The report notes other possibilities could include cross-contamination from another contaminated food source at the restaurant, such as beef, or the restaurant could have received a small, highly-contaminated batch of lettuce that did not go to any other facility.
After the outbreak occurred, company officials disposed of products at that location and hired a hygienic-specialist company to clean the restaurant, one of 20 Valley Federico’s.
The restaurant also brought in Linda Cobb, a best-selling author who has been dubbed the “Queen of Clean,” to ensure the restaurant maintains a high standard of cleanliness.
William Marler, a Seattle attorney who represents 35 victims of the E. coli outbreak, said most of the victims have recovered. He said the type of E. coli illness the Federico’s customers suffered lasts about 10 days to two weeks.
“A sizable number of the 35 I represent sought emergencyroom care or were hospitalized for a day or more,” Marler said. “I represent one family whose child developed acute kidney failure and was hospitalized for several weeks, which included dialysis and blood transfusions.”
Both that girl and another child developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening complication from an E. coli infection that can cause kidney failure, Marler said.
Of the 94 people who got sick, 24 were children.
Findings from the county Health Department study were shared with Federico’s to guide future prevention efforts. Federico’s implemented recommendations for lettuce handling and storage, as well as hand-washing, to minimize the risk of E. coli contamination.