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Brookshire Farms co-owner reacts to SLO County E. coli outbreak
San Luis Obispo Tribune • • health
Key Points:
- Brookshire Farms was linked to an E. coli O157 outbreak in San Luis Obispo County, resulting in five confirmed cases and three children in intensive care, prompting a voluntary 10-day closure during peak pumpkin season.
- Despite extensive cleaning protocols and multiple handwashing and sanitizing stations, the exact source of the outbreak was not identified through environmental testing, with only non-pathogenic E. coli strains found on the farm.
- The outbreak involved two groups visiting the farm on consecutive days, and the farm owner, Shawn Callaway, disputes that pumpkins were the source, noting the county did not test pumpkins and later clarified pumpkins were not considered a risk.
- Brookshire Farms reopened with thousands of free pumpkins to visitors after the county declared no ongoing public health threat, though the financial impact of the closure was significant.
- Moving forward, the farm plans to focus on traditional holiday activities and providing family experiences, scaling back expansion plans due to the outbreak's impact.
