The latest evidence in the Public Health Agency of Canada’s food-borne illness investigation indicates that the most probable cause of the E. coli O157:H7 illnesses in the Maritimes (New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and Ontario is shredded lettuce distributed by FreshPoint Inc. primarily to some KFC and KFC-Taco Bell restaurants. The CFIA has traced the lettuce to its origin in California and has notified U.S. authorities of this finding.
According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, 1 additional case of E. coli O157:H7 illness was confirmed in Ontario as part of this outbreak. This brings the total number of cases to 29. These individuals became ill between late December and early January. New Brunswick reports six ill, Nova Scotia reports 10 ill and Ontario now reports 13 ill.