10 of 16 E. coli cases reported in Monroe County.
According to Patti Singer of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, three people in Monroe County and one in another county were hospitalized in connection with an outbreak of E. coli bacteria that could be linked to Wegmans Organic Spinach and Spring Mix salad blends.
The genders and ages of people sickened were not available. All three Monroe County residents have since been released and no deaths have been reported, according to the Monroe County Department of Public Health. The person outside of the county remained hospitalized as of Friday evening, according to the state Department of Health, which is investigating the outbreak.
On Friday, Wegmans Food Markets announced it was recalling about 31,000 pounds of the salad, which was sold in 5-ounce and 11-ounce clamshell packages between Oct. 14 and Thursday, because of possible contamination with E. coli.
As of Friday, Monroe County had 10 of the 16 confirmed cases of E. coli in four New York counties that likely are associated with the product, according to John Ricci, spokesman for the county health department. The state also reported cases in Wayne, Steuben and Niagara counties.
Wegmans has 81 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts. A spokeswoman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the federal agency did not have information about illness in other states, and it was investigating.
The product, a blend of organic spinach and spring mix, is supplied to Wegmans by State Garden Inc. of Chelsea, Massachusetts.
The outbreak was first reported at Food Safety News.