The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert regarding beef kofta products served at The Kebab Shop restaurant locations because they have been implicated in and outbreak of E. coli infections.
The beef kofta was produced as a raw ground beef product by Olympia Food Industries Inc. dba Olympia Foods in Franklin Park, IL, on Jan. 6, 2026, and supplied to The Kebab Shop restaurant locations in California, Texas and Florida.
The problem was discovered as part of an ongoing illness outbreak investigation. FSIS, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and local health departments in California are investigating a localized outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that includes nine sick people in California. Six illnesses are in children. Five individuals have been hospitalized, and two have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths have been reported. No individuals from other states are currently linked to the outbreak.
As of May 24, illness onset dates have been reported ranging from March 27, 2026, to April 30, 2026. The Kabob Shop restaurants stopped selling the implicated product on May 18.
Because the identified illnesses are limited to California, CDPH is leading this investigation with FSIS. FSIS collected raw ground beef kofta product samples that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Further testing is ongoing to determine if the product samples are related to the specific outbreak strain.
FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers in California, Texas, and Florida are aware of the outbreak.
People who ate the product and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention. It can take several days after exposure for symptoms to develop.
About E. coli infections
Food contaminated with E. coli does not look, smell or taste bad.
Anyone with symptoms of E. coli infection should tell their doctor about their possible exposure to the bacteria. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
The symptoms of E. coli infections vary for each person but often include severe stomach cramps and diarrhea, which is often bloody. Some patients may also have a fever. Most patients recover within five to seven days. Others can develop severe or life-threatening symptoms and complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About 5 to 10 percent of those diagnosed with E. coli infections develop a potentially life-threatening kidney failure complication, known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Symptoms of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, feeling very tired, decreased frequency of urination, small unexplained bruises or bleeding, and pallor.
Many people with HUS recover within a few weeks, but some suffer permanent injuries or death. This condition can occur among people of any age but is most common in children younger than five years old because of their immature immune systems, older adults because of deteriorating immune systems, and people with compromised immune systems such as cancer patients.
People who experience HUS symptoms should immediately seek emergency medical care. People with HUS will likely be hospitalized because the condition can cause other serious and ongoing problems such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, brain damage, and neurologic problems.
