CDC released a report in late July revealing that 16 people in 12 states have been infected with the same strain of E. coli. The agency believes the outbreak is related to contaminated cake mix.
FDA is in the midst of a trackback investigation to see if it can identify a common brand or production facility linked to these cases. Officials have started product testing in relation to the illnesses.
Although no source has been identified as of yet, the early investigation has found that a majority of those experiencing the effects have recently eaten or tasted raw cake batter—though the varieties and brands were diverse. Therefore, there has been no recall of any products.
The cases date back to March 2021 and include people in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, South Carolina, and Massachusetts.
So far, seven people have been hospitalized and one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious kidney problem. No deaths have been reported. It’s believed that the outbreak is larger than just the 16 cases, but milder cases are often not reported as people tend not to seek help for what they perceive as a run-of-the-mill stomach bug.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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