Pickled cabbage contaminated with E.coli has led to a massive food poisoning outbreak in Japan,resulting in seven deaths and 100 cases of illness in the country.
The pickled cabbage was produced by Iwai Shokuhin-a company based in Sapporo,Japan,and was sold at several supermarkets,reported the Japan Times.
Health officials noted that they are still evaluating how the contamination occurred.
E coli O157:H7 is a bacterium that can lead to bloody diarrhea,dehydration and,in the most severe cases,kidney failure.This foodborne illness can be particularly dangerous for pregnant women,the elderly,newborn infants and those with compromised immune systems.
Japan's latest food poisoning outbreak occurred in 2009,when it killed nine residents of a hospital nursing home,north of Tokyo.
