Kimchi linked to workplace E. coli outbreak in Korea
What it found
In a workplace outbreak in Daejeon, Korea, people who ate kimchi were more likely to get sick with ETEC O159, and the same bacteria strain was found in preserved kimchi samples.
The investigation included 75 symptomatic cases and 27 laboratory-confirmed infections.
What they found
Studies in people
Kimchi and illness
Among the 75 people who met the case definition, those who ate kimchi were more likely to get sick than those who did not. After adjusting for other factors, the link remained.
Symptoms and timing
All 75 cases had diarrhea, and about half had abdominal pain or fever. The average time from eating to getting sick was about 70.5 hours.
Multi-region outbreak
The same kimchi from one factory was linked to outbreaks in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with 2 and 31 confirmed cases respectively, plus 27 in Daejeon.
Animal and lab studies
Bacteria in kimchi
ETEC O159 was found in two preserved kimchi samples, one served at lunch on August 8 and one at dinner on August 12. These samples matched the main strain pattern found in sick people.
Other findings
Factory inspection
The factory had no hygiene violations and no sick workers, and pathogens were not found in raw ingredients. The exact point of contamination could not be determined.
What the authors conclude
“This outbreak was attributed to ETEC O159, with kimchi suspected as the infection source.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that this outbreak was attributed to ETEC O159, with kimchi suspected as the infection source.
- They say these findings provide rare evidence implicating non-heated fermented foods in ETEC transmission.
- They highlight the need for strengthened hygiene standards and real-time monitoring throughout the production, distribution, and handling of fermented foods.
How it was done
The authors wanted to identify the cause, source, and contamination route of a large gastrointestinal illness outbreak among workers at a workplace cafeteria in Daejeon, Korea, in August 2024.
They surveyed 107 employees who ate at the cafeteria, tested rectal swabs from 35 symptomatic people, and analyzed 171 environmental and food samples. They also traced the distribution of kimchi from a factory in Gyeonggi Province to catering facilities in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
What it can’t tell you
- This investigation cannot prove that kimchi caused the illness, only that it was linked to it.
- The exact contamination point during production or distribution remained undetermined.
- The survey had a low response rate, so the results may not represent all workers.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Daejeon Center for Infectious Diseases Control, Korea; Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Korea; Yuseong-gu Public Health Center, Korea
The paper
- Title
- Workplace outbreak of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O159 enteritis linked to kimchi consumption in Daejeon, Korea, 2024
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people · animals · lab
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Licence
- CC BY. Words in quotation marks are the authors’; the rest is our summary.
- Cite
- Hwang JH, Song EM, Jeong EH, et al (2026). Workplace outbreak of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O159 enteritis linked to kimchi consumption in Daejeon, Korea, 2024. Epidemiology and health. doi:10.4178/epih.e2026031Free full textPubMed 42442735DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error