Diced Butternut Squash E. coli Recall at Costco

Diced butternut squash sold at Costco stores in three states and Washington DC has been recalled for E. coli. Costco customers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington DC who have purchased this product should not eat it as E. coli can cause severe illness and death.

Safeway Fresh Foods of Vineland, NJ, issued the recall on September 25 after company testing revealed the presence of E. coli O45 in product samples. recalling its 32-oz. D At the time of the recall, the company was not aware of any reported illnesses.

The recalled product was sold in clear, plastic containers from September 7, 2023, to September 15, 2023, with a “use by” date of 09/19/2023.  

What is E. coli O45?

E. coli O45 is one of a handful of E. coli strains that produce a Shiga toxin which is poisonous to humans. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections cause severe illness that often requires hospitalization. Some patients with STEC infections develop a potentially fatal complications called are also hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which can cause kidney failure. 

Symptoms of an E. coli infection, which include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea that is sometimes bloody, usually develop within one to three days of exposure.