Starbucks recalls Christmas panini over US E.coli scare
Panic-hit Stuckbucks has recalled the turkey sandwich from stores in California, Oregon and Nevada after it emerged a celery-onion blend used in it was linked to an E.coli contamination at Costo.
In November, a rotisserie chicken salad with E.coli traces caused the illness of 19 people across seven US states, with at least one person suffering acute kidney failure.
As a result of the scare, a joint investigation by the Washington State Department of Health and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was set-up to trace the source of the outbreak.
And last week, the CDC identified celery as the likely cause of the E.coli outbreak.
Outbreak cause: 'Celery-onion blend'
It is believed that a cranberry cornbread stuffing, with a celery-onion blend, found in the Starbuck sandwich was the same product used in the Costco chicken salad.
The celery was supplied by Taylors Farms, an American-based producer of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.
Taylor Foods has launched a recall of several celery products which could potentially contain E.coli 0157:H7.In a sample taken by the Montana Department of Health, the celery-onion blend tested positve for the E.Coli strain and the US Food and Drug Administration confirmed that the celery-onion blend was used in the Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad that was linked to the seven-state outbreak.
Social reaction
No illnesses have been reported for the Starbucks outbreak, but people who have eaten the sandwich were quick to vent their frustration on social media.
The “E. coli break is ruining my life - chipotle, Costco and Starbucks”, tweeted Jennifer Man.
Another user on Twitter, going by the name of Rylee Michele, tweeted: “The fact that there is currently an E. Coli break out [sic] and was found in foods at Starbucks and I have all the symptoms is not settling”.
And Business Insider reporter Akin Oyedele, tweeted: “No buying anything that has celery in it”.
Starbucks were unavailable to comment.
