E. coli not found in Locust Grove restaurant's food

The state's investigation into the outbreak, which has sickened 248 people and killed one man, continues to focus on the restaurant. The findings make it unlikely the state would be able to pin the food-borne illness outbreak on the Country Cottage restaurant with absolute certainty.

Health workers collected samples from several foods at Country Cottage, including chicken, chicken marinade, cantaloupe, soft-serve ice cream mix and other dessert items, state Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley said.

None of it turned up E. coli O111, which is thought to have made people sick, she said. Bradley described those items as "foods of interest” in the outbreak investigation.

The investigation now rests on interviews with people who ate at the restaurant.

Most of the 248 people who became sick ate at Country Cottage between Aug. 15 and Aug. 17, according to the state Health Department.

To date, more than 1,500 of the 2,400 people who ate at the restaurant that weekend have been interviewed in connection with the case.

It is expected to be weeks or months before the state releases a final report on the outbreak. Health workers will continue to interview people until 8 p.m. today.