Colorado Springs food distribution facility under investigation, additional E. coli cases found

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — 12 new people are hospitalized in connection to the E. coli outbreak at McDonald’s.

The Centers for Disease Control identified 26 new cases linked to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. The contamination was detected in three new states, bringing the total to 13. No new deaths were reported.

US Foods has issued a recall for certain Taylor Farms onion products manufactured at its Colorado plant. Taylor Farms is based in California and has a sales office in Colorado Springs. US Foods said in a statement that the recall affects facilities in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and New Mexico.

A US Food spokesperson said KRDO13 Investigated Taylor Farms has reported that they test both raw and finished products for pathogens and have found no traces of E. coli.

KRDO13 Investigated reached out to Taylor Farms and they issued the following statement.

As a family business, we are proud to offer people safe, healthy and fresh food every day. It saddens us to see the illnesses and affected individuals and families from today E.coli O157:H7 outbreak. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people affected and their families. Our priority remains the health and safety of our consumers. As a precautionary measure, we have recalled yellow onions from our Taylor Farms Colorado facility that were shipped to select food service customers. We continue to work with the CDC and FDA as they investigate the cause of the outbreak. All Taylor Farms products on the market today are safe to consume.

-Taylor Farms

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said it is investigating the outbreak and said it may be at a facility in Colorado Springs.

“US Foods has issued a general onion recall related to Taylor Farms, indicating it may be a processing and distribution center in Colorado Springs. We are working with our local, state and federal partners to continue our investigation into the E. coli outbreak. FDA is leading the recall investigation.”

What does the investigation look like?

KRDO13 Investigates spoke with Dr. Mel Kramer, an infectious disease epidemiologist at EHA Consulting, on what health investigations during outbreaks look like firsthand. Kramer has worked as a consultant for companies and health organizations during outbreaks.

“It will be over when the science says it’s over, when we can say conclusively that this happened,” Kramer said, adding there is no set timetable for completing the investigation.

Kramer said the investigation could essentially be broken down into three main points:

• Talk to people
• Laboratory tests
• Molecular tests

Talking to people: Kramer said at this point in the investigation it’s about figuring out what specifically made people sick and what didn’t.

Laboratory testing: This is where health organizations test the feces of sick people and the foods that may be responsible for the illness.

Molecular testing: Kramer said organizations here are looking for the specific version of E. coli that causes illness in both people and food.

KRDO13 Investigates asked Kramer what the most common cause of E. coli is. Contamination. His answer might be a surprise: “There is a connection, usually to cattle somewhere.” [cows].” Kramer said workers typically have a bad reputation. Although the root cause of this current outbreak is not known, Kramer said it is unlikely it was caused by a worker because the outbreak spanned 13 states and typically workers with E. Coli patients are too sick to come to work.