An E. coli outbreak linked to tainted ground beef has spread to 10 states, including Illinois, with 156 people testing positive for infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). At this time, no common supplier, distributor, or brand of ground beef has been identified. Of the 156 people with reported cases, 20 had been hospitalized. There have been no deaths linked to this E. coli outbreak, according to the CDC’s notice. The CDC is currently conducting investigations into the source of the contaminated beef. As of Tuesday, the agency has not recommended that people refrain from eating ground beef, but instead stressed that “consumers and restaurants should handle ground beef safely and cook it thoroughly to avoid foodborne illness.”
