11 E. coli cases in Arizona likely tied to Costco cheese, state officials say

By Stephanie Innes, Arizona Daily Star Arizona Daily Star Posted: Thursday, November 4, 2010 5:54 pm

Arizona has confirmed 11 E. coli cases likely tied to cheese sold or tasted at Costco stores in October, state health officials said Thursday.

None of the cases is in Southern Arizona, said Joli Weiss, foodborne-illness epidemiologist for the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Overall, more than two dozen cases of E. coli in five states, also including Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and California, are likely tied to such cheese, the Arizona Department of Health Services said in a news release.

Federal, state and local health officials are working to determine the type of cheese causing illness. Preliminary data are pointing to the Dutch style Gouda, but health officials are still investigating, the news release said. The Arizona State Public Health Laboratory is now testing several samples.

The illnesses may be associated with cheese served and sold at “Cheese Road Shows” Costco held in October, the Arizona health officials said. “Costco is fully cooperating with the investigation and stores are voluntarily removing suspect products from its shelves. In order to protect consumer health, Costco is also notifying customers who purchased the cheese and is asking members to return all cheese from the road show,” the Arizona officials said.

With E. coli people usually experience symptoms between one and 10 days after consuming a contaminated product. Certain strains of E. coli can cause severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps; sometimes the infection causes non-bloody diarrhea or no symptoms. Usually little or no fever is present, and the illness goes away in five to 10 days.

If you have these symptoms and are concerned, contact your healthcare provider, the health officials say. If you have concerns about your cheese, take it to the Costco where it was purchased.