Butternut Squash Sold At Costco Stores May Have E. Coli Contamination

ACROSS AMERICA — An organic butternut squash product sold at Costco stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C., has been recalled because it may be contaminated with a strain of E. coli bacteria, according to a Food and Drug Administration notice.

The recall involves a single product — 32-ounce Diced Organic Butternut Squash produced by Safeway Fresh Foods of Vineland, New Jersey, which said the potential for Escherichia coli O45 contamination was detected during routine testing. No illnesses have been associated with the product, the FDA said.

The product was sold in Costco from Sept. 7-15. It has a “use by” date of Sept. 19. The UPC is 040232244124.

Customers who may have the product on hand should return it to their local Costco store. Questions may be directed to Safeway Fresh Foods at 856-692-7200 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Most healthy adults recover from E. coli 045 illnesses within a week, but infections can lead to complications such as a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, according to the FDA. HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly.