The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for beef kofta products served at The Kebab Shop restaurants in three states because of possible E. coli contamination.
The Kebab Shop has restaurants in McKinney and The Colony in North Texas, as well as ten locations in the Houston metroplex and six in the Austin area.
FSIS said the potential contamination surfaced during an ongoing illness outbreak investigation. The Kebab Shop stopped selling beef kofta at all of its restaurant locations on May 18, 2026.
The investigation is being carried out by FSIS along with the California Department of Public Health. Nine people in California have become ill as of May 24, according to FSIS. Additional testing is underway to determine whether the product samples match the specific outbreak strain.
Symptoms can include diarrhea that may be bloody or watery, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and low fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Signs of dehydration can include little or no urination, dark urine, increased thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness, dry mouth, dry throat, or crying without tears, according to the CDC.
The CDC says Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems, or death.
