# E. coli cases possibly linked to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm, Will County health officials say

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-23 20:20 UTC · Category: Health

## Executive Summary
Five E. coli infections in Will County may be tied to a popular suburban pumpkin farm, sparking a health investigation.

## Intelligence Brief
Will County health officials are investigating five confirmed cases of E. coli infection that may be linked to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen, Illinois. Coverage of the incident appears across four media outlets. Food Poison Journal published a brief titled “Five Sickened with E. coli,” noting the number of individuals affected. CBS News reported that Will County is investigating the five cases and identified the farm in Homer Glen as a possible source.


NBC 5 Chicago highlighted the farm’s popularity and its possible connection to the confirmed cases. ABC7 Chicago echoed the health officials’ statement that the cases may be linked to Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm. E. coli outbreaks commonly arise from contaminated produce, water, or contact with livestock, and public health agencies routinely trace such incidents to specific sites. Will County’s health department is responsible for monitoring food‑borne illnesses within its jurisdiction and for issuing advisories when a source is identified.


Pumpkin farms attract large numbers of visitors during the autumn season, increasing the potential for food‑handling errors or environmental contamination. Future updates will hinge on the results of the Will County investigation. Coverage suggests that health officials may issue public notices, recall guidance, or temporary closures if a definitive link is confirmed. Readers should monitor subsequent reports from the same outlets—Food Poison Journal, CBS News, NBC 5 Chicago, and ABC7 Chicago—for statements from county officials, laboratory findings, or any recommended precautions for visitors to the farm.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Patch | Petting Zoo Closed After E. Coli Investigation At Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxQcGd0VWlwc29pdXBUa3hrMUVMYUV2QVQxS241VVhsRVlzR0JFQ3hienlSaXV1LXd0ak15d2stRmNjWjdTVkduOU5pZVhKa1VRMzlHVGJ4emJfTDMzMHRyYU1fb3JIaVV5OTlnbkZfQk5XTjJUTlhOQXVpSUVITjNSYWVQWnF5Vzh1a1JMNmFkQzVkbFlORXB6dXQybzI0eHRpX0JvaEFYUVgtMVBzaUNJMHBZbFbSAcoBQVVfeXFMUE1kQVZPR3VGb19CXzlzcFl6Qmx1NmxYb0RtUllWd1I2NmdsQlE4TW5fVzctenFPQ3pLQVFkQ2IxT3NVMnZZeFhhNjk0WVg1bFBBaDVGZGhDNGFzS2h2S1FmVlM4MXpNc0p6ejgyck1uVVAtVlU0d3QzSGZhakxfZ2Q4OVl0V1RJUHBBcWZ5ei01YXNpQ1R5Vy0tUFY3eml) |
| WGN-TV | 5 E. coli cases possibly linked to Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxQeklmcU40c185LWV1eG1wWmhKMkRZY3ZHa2hSUFpZaHd6cERBMlB5TmhzUXIzOHRzWWlwel9Vc2t0VjY5TkJSNm5DMDROU3BFNUZHeUJJWkk5LXpySkZXdVM1cmRPakNzUC1pcnVHaFRMbzl4NzVzRnlwMVZDWW5lWUJ2cnNqYV9ISGhHVzlGdFBWQVNDNUUxRE1HOG84VEHSAaQBQVVfeXFMUGF5VDZwZk15LWNRS01LSDV6OFFpY3dGSnNuR1dmaE4tWXE1bVlhc3hLazdJY0tPSXdXZVlNVGJiRUR3LW9fd3dPMS1TWjlXS2pBZmpEaXo0aWlQMmJsS2hvSHhhNG5SSGc5OGJhNzIzZVhFR3R6aUlJRFJ2SWw5a0NmZE5EaGkycXkwakRaaFNwOGYxVzJNZmZhSnhpWnBfT2xWYXA?oc=5) |
| Food Poison Journal | Five Sickened with E. coli – Bengtson’s Pumpkin Farm Petting Zoo Closed | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxQeGFyMFcyZ0RmRUZkN2tUOVlGM2JIblMtci0xb05nbUd1LTliZHI3V0s3M21YWm9reElYZ1JDenE1Rk81U2VqcXZvTUlWRG1WWklZS2M5blRfVmF4OFZ3MnNCa2JzSnNPaVBRQUhscDJuWE1lbkZKbk1xTG5wZ1pKSzh2UWh5eGZLOXFOVC1zTGFGcW9jd0RSY1ZrUEJvNE5ra01CX3EzZ2l2Tld5T1dHSWRjTXFnVjVYQUhlRDBsb1V2bnMxUV80eg?oc=5) |
| CBS News | Will County investigating 5 cases of E. coli possibly linked to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxNYnJ2bGNOVHpfNTZLanpFLWp3OU9oSFhNbWdDOTFRVi1BZjZJWUpkV1RnZHdQQkc2UzU0UVFnTUxnN1ppYmZ4Z3VpNjFhenZRRkRTaElpR0YxWHBmVTFWclp0N1NYQkFROHZtai1CTmhIYnFfd1lBUmhCRFptMUw5S0JBb1dIQjh3bXMxd3RLRG92TlRTam9FX1hQdFFFZEZwU1k1a3NMZ3pjZw?oc=5) |
| NBC 5 Chicago | Popular suburban pumpkin farm may be connected to 5 confirmed cases of E. coli | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxNVF9tR3JyTElPcHFDcHdzYTlqYnpMdVFVUXhoWkN5WHJ0MzdFWFY0bWFOaUZuMjJXRkx1cEFTbEZQY09fOEZzU2VSTTRfcWpQZUpqeFB5RGlnTlB0XzY0a1RfckJiTWRqWEpEd3prTDh0T1M0WjRZREpKSEZVOXJHY3ltdHl0a0Z4T0gtQVMteWw4SnlTNC1YWlk2RV9BdlRPb1NRYU9FX0Q0dVI3UTlFR3llMUhrS2NTaUZXVC13Mm5Pd9IBygFBVV95cUxNekFwMjRZMHNIcUVoXzJkdWJINERuaWdGZkE3N2xhdDdfYnF2ek85RnM4czVkcWozUnFEMlpZQUNOYmh3aEtoT0lTcXBBYlJRa3FYUHRFeENuVjBkOUFxMmpURU45WjZaSS1iWFpxR2FFanY3VmJQUVl2clRLYU1QVTFXbzNFVXJXVUhScVNHX2g) |
| ABC7 Chicago | E. coli cases possibly linked to Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm, Will County health officials say | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxOeHNhX0d3WDhoSUE4SzZ5SF9Pb29obkJPelY3RERUTWowTURqQ2RiUGNvMjdyR0JRMldIMUhTclZWMW41REFtRE5aY0hGWl9UQnduWFdFWjgtY2Jsel9MRmdtSUxBQlQzcTFBVlkzeUJCUzdFTEMycjhGX1JUT3VJNTUzSHRfQXVJS3AxdkttSlhwdHFSNHZKb2JTNVpiODVLZWYwMjlBVXdiNVVlcHp5VGlqcWs3cVpyY0llbEdn0gHDAUFVX3lxTE9tOVdIREVmZnotTUVXejlVamk5UHdBOFljRVlQNHpwY2FSWmZUUlN5N0lxU2Z2bTIxb2QydDNWYlhNWHlzZlExOEd6d3RINzFqVDFVV05MN3JJYkZMdHE4SDl2c1lzelFtS2tCTkxjaXQ3QXFTOGd5QkRRdjhHUEdxb1NsaXBaZUs0SVV3TmdLQzRUekJ) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-23/e-coli-cases-possibly-linked-to-bengtson-s-pumpkin-farm-will-county-health*