Health authorities say people in seven states have now been sickened by E. coli 0157:H7 following an initial cluster of cases in New Jersey, indicating a single restaurant is not likely to be the source.
The contaminations, 17 in total, have been confirmed in regions as far afield as Connecticut and Washington state. Two other people were believed to be suffering from an E. coli infection, but tests have yet to verify they were sickened by the same strains as the others.
Although officials in New Jersey and one of its four affected counties have named Panera Bread as one of the food outlets being investigated as a possible source, federal authorities stress that no particular chain or food item is under suspicion.
Panera has not responded to a request for comment.
Authorities at all levels have left open the possibility that multiple restaurants or grocery stores may have sold contaminated food.
They also report the victims became sick several weeks ago, from March 22 through March 31. Six were hospitalized, including one diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a form of kidney failure.
New Jersey still has the most reported cases with six, followed by Idaho, with four; Connecticut and Pennsylvania, with two each; and Missouri, Ohio and Washington, with one each.
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