Costco E. coli scare expands to other retailers

Bloomberg Business reports 1,347 sandwiches were recalled last week in certain locations in California, Oregon and Nevada.

No other markets were affected by the sandwiches in the chain’s holiday campaign, spokeswoman Erin Jane Schaeffer told Bloomberg. The company hasn’t received any reports of illness, Schaeffer said.

The panini contains a seasonal stuffing with celery in it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified a celery blend to be a likely cause of an E. coli outbreak that sickened 19 people in seven states, including Washington. Health officials tested the celery and onion diced blend produced by Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. that was used in the Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad, which was linked to the E. coli outbreak.

After the test, Taylor Farms Pacific Inc. recalled multiple celery products, including the Starbucks sandwiches.

Other stores affected by the recall include major grocery chains such as Walmart, Safeway and Albertsons, according to CNN. In total, over 155,000 products are targeted by the recall and include vegetable trays and salad kits. While the western region of the country remains the primary focus, other states that are now part of the recall include Georgia, Arkansas, Nebraska and Hawaii.

In October, 43 Chipotle stores across the Northwest shut down amid an E. coli outbreak. The stores reopened in November. The ingredient in that outbreak has not been identified.