E. coli O157:H7 cases in the Maritimes and Ontario - Timeline of Events

January 24, 2013

The CFIA completes its investigation. A report of inspection is provided to Freshpoint Inc.

January 18, 2013

PHAC issues an updated public health notice on the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the Maritimes and Ontario. PHAC reports that there are 30 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness.

The CFIA continues its trace back investigation.

January 16

PHAC issues an updated public health notice on the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the Maritimes and Ontario. PHAC reports that there are 29 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness.

The CFIA continues to monitor the effectiveness of the recall.

January 15

Product and water samples taken from FreshPoint Inc. for laboratory analyses all come back negative for the presence of E. coli O157:H7.

January 14

PHAC issues an updated public health notice on the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the Maritimes and Ontario. PHAC reports that there are 28 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness.

The CFIA continues its investigation at FreshPoint Inc. and takes product and water samples for laboratory analyses.

January 12

As a precautionary measure, FreshPoint Inc. decides to voluntarily expand the recall to include all lettuce products that use the same raw material and were produced in the same time frame as the products that were recalled on January 10, 2013. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Given the limited shelf life of lettuce, it is unlikely that any potentially affected product would be remaining in the marketplace.

January 11

PHAC reports that there are 26 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness. 

PHAC issues a public health notice identifying lettuce as the probable source of the outbreak and that the CFIA is working with FreshPoint Inc. to recall any remaining affected products from the specific KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants.

January 10

PHAC reports that there are 19 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness. 

Based on the PHAC epidemiological assessment and the HC health risk assessment, the CFIA notifies FreshPoint Inc. that shredded lettuce manufactured by the company and used during the exposure period, poses a health risk. 

Given the limited shelf life of lettuce, it is unlikely that any potentially affected product remains at these fast food restaurants. As a precaution, FreshPoint Inc. initiates a recall for shredded lettuce shipped during the time of the outbreak to KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

January 9

PHAC issues an updated public health notice on the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Atlantic Canada and Ontario.

PHAC reports that there are 16 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness.  The confirmed cases are considered to be linked by laboratory results. 

Based on findings during the investigation, a PHAC epidemiological assessment identifies that lettuce distributed to certain KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants in the Maritimes is the likely source of the outbreak. 

Using the PHAC assessment, the CFIA requests a health risk assessment from HC to determine if lettuce distributed to these restaurants poses a health risk.

January 8

PHAC reports that there are 15 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness. The confirmed cases are considered to be linked by laboratory results.

The CFIA continues its investigation at FreshPoint Inc. and reviews sanitation and processing records to verify that appropriate food safety controls were followed during processing to determine a possible source of contamination. No issue is identified at this time.

PHAC issues a public health notice on the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in Atlantic Canada and Ontario.

January 7

CFIA conducts an investigation at FreshPoint Inc. and collects detailed distribution records. 

Based on this activity, the CFIA identifies several lots of shredded romaine and iceberg lettuce that may have been used by the fast food restaurants during the exposure period.

PHAC informs the CFIA of four new cases from Ontario that have the same PFGE pattern as the NB cases. 

An OICC call is held with CFIA, PHAC, HC and provincial health officials to share information.

January 5 and 6

CFIA, PHAC and provincial health authorities continue to collect and analyze information relating to the illness cases and share the information with the OICC. This involves extensive review of food histories and assessment of distribution records for produce shipped to fast food restaurants that were identified in individuals' food histories.

January 4

An Outbreak Investigation Coordination Committee (OICC) is activated by PHAC and a conference call is held with the CFIA, Health Canada (HC) and provincial health authorities.

From information obtained during the investigation of possible common food sources, the CFIA determines that certain common lots of shredded lettuce and tomatoes were distributed to several KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants. The investigation of other possible sources of contamination continues.

Further traceback activity conducted by the CFIA identifies FreshPoint Inc. as the food service processor for lettuce and tomatoes distributed to the KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants. As a result, the CFIA launches an investigation at FreshPoint Inc. in Toronto.

January 3

A call is held with CFIA, PHAC, Health Canada and health officials from NS, NB and PEI to share information on the cases.

Fast food restaurants are identified in many of the illnesses' food history.  

The CFIA initiates trace back and trace forward activities for various suppliers for these fast food restaurants.

Based on available PFGE results, three cases from NB are linked.

January 2

PHAC informs the CFIA of a cluster of seven human illness cases of E. coli O157:H7 from Nova Scotia (NS) and a possible case of E. coli O157:H7 in Prince Edward Island (PEI) that may be linked. At this time, no PFGE information is available.

No common food source has been identified; however, many of the cases have identified eating at fast food locations.

December 31

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) informs the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of five human illness cases of E. coli O157:H7 under investigation by the province of New Brunswick (NB).

A public health investigation has been launched by the provincial health authorities.

At this time, no Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern information, (DNA fingerprinting) is available and no suspect food source has been identified.