The McDonald’s Fresh Express Salad cyclospora outbreak has grown again, according to the FDA. As of August 23, 2018, 507 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in people who ate salads served at McDonald’s restaurants. Those sickened live in 15 states and New York City.
The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (99), Illinois (273), Indiana (9), Kentucky (8), Michigan (2), Minnesota (11), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), New York City (1), Ohio (15), South Dakota (18), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (1). The patients in Connecticut, New York City, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida purchased McDonald’s salads in other states. Twenty-four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick.
FDA is reviewing distribution and supplier information for the romaine and carrots produced by Fresh Express and sold to McDonald’s. In addition to this outbreak, beef, pork, and poultry salad and wrap products made with chopped romaine distributed by Caito Foods, which bought those ingredients from Fresh Express, were recalled. A public health alert was issued about this recall by the USDA on July 30, 2018. No illnesses have been reported in connection with these recalled products.
FDA officials found cyclospora parasites in an unused package of Fresh Express salad mix that contained romaine and carrots that had been distributed to McDonald’s.
You can contact attorney Fred Pritzker at 612-338-0202 or 1-888-377-8900.
Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented many clients sickened with cyclospora infections just this summer, said, “We don’t know why this outbreak keeps growing even though McDonald’s changed salad suppliers and the Fresh Express product expired more than a month ago. It could be that people who are sick are hearing about this outbreak and are getting tested.”
McDonald’s voluntarily stopped selling salads at restaurants in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri on July 13, 2018. They replaced the supplier of salads in those states. No products were recalled in this McDonald’s Fresh Express salad cyclospora outbreak.
The symptoms of a cyclospora infection include diarrhea that is explosive, watery, and persistent, weight loss, loss of appetite, increased gas, nausea, and cramps. Fever, headache, vomiting, and other symptoms similar to the flu may also be present. This infection can seem to go away and then recur if it isn’t treated.
