USDA FSIS is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that beef kofta products served at The Kebab Shop restaurant locations may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7. The beef kofta was produced as a raw ground beef product by Olympia Food Industries, Inc. dba Olympia Foods (Est. 18743) in Franklin Park, Illinois, on January 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 9 sick people in California. As of May 24, 2026, illness onset dates have been reported ranging from March 27, 2026, to April 30, 2026.
A recall was not issued because the product is no longer for sale.
Comment: Beef kofta is a Middle Eastern dish made from ground beef combined with onions, garlic, fresh herbs and aromatic spices. The mixture is shaped into cylindrical logs, patties, or meatballs, sometimes skewered, and cooked and grilled. The product is grilled in a way that it is still juicy, so the tendency would be towards undercooking versus overcooking, so this is where E. coli survival poses a greater risk.
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-beef-kofta-products-served-kebab-shop-restaurant
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Beef Kofta Products Served at The Kebab Shop Restaurant Locations Due to Possible E. Coli O157:H7 ContaminationWASHINGTON, May 24, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that beef kofta products served at The Kebab Shop restaurant locations may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157:H7. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available for purchase.