Abstract:ObjectiveTo study the distribution and homology of foodborneassociated extendedspectrum βlactamases (ESBLs)producing Escherichia coli (E. coli).MethodsESBLsproducing E. coli were isolated from different food specimens in Shaoguan from 2014 to 2015, strains were typed with pulsedfield gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and BioNumerics software.Results11 strains of diarrheacausing E. coli and 29 strains of ESBLsproducing E. coli were isolated from 347 different sources of food specimens. PFGE analysis showed that 29 strains could be divided into 21 cluster groups, group A was predominant pattern, which included 7 strains(J2, J3, J4, J7, J9, B4, S3), group B included 2 strains (J6, J8), the other strains were sporadic clones. Similarity coefficient (SC) of 3 strains (J2, J7, J9) from health practitioners was 100%,SC of strains from drinking water and patients with diarrhea (B4) was 97.1%,SC of S3 strain and 4 strains (J2, J3, J7, J9) from health practitioners were all>90.0%.ConclusionFoodborneassociated ESBLsproducing E. coli are widely distributed in food, water, animal, and populations, and can be transmitted through food chain, surveillance should enhanced to avoid further spread.