Panera is reportedly at the center of an E. coli investigation in New Jersey

AP Photo/Steven Senne

• Health officials in New Jersey are investigating Panera Bread for a possible link to six cases of E. coli infections spanning four counties.
• One Panera location in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, is the chief focus of the probe.
• E. coli causes symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting.

New Jersey health officials are reportedly investigating Panera Bread for a possible link to several cases of E. coli illnesses spanning four counties.

"The Warren County Health Department and state Health Department are investigating a cluster of E. coli cases" potentially from "local Panera Breads," Sarah Perramant, public health epidemiologist in Warren County, told NJ.com.

One Panera location in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, is the chief focus of the probe, Perramant said.

The matter is still under investigation, so the state health department has not officially named Panera as the source of the outbreak, she added.

Panera and the New Jersey state health department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

E. coli causes symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting.