The huge Del Monte Cyclospora outbreak has sickened 212 people in four states. Of those patients, at least 54 live in Minnesota. The last update posted by the FDA was on July 5, 2018.
Attorney Fred Pritzker, who is representing many of those sickened in this outbreak and has filed several lawsuits, said, “There are many Kwik Trip facilities, where many of the Del Monte products were sold, in Minnesota and in Wisconsin, where more than 100 people are sick. We expect that this Del Monte cyclospora outbreak will probably grow, since there is a time lag from when a person gets sick and they visit their doctor and are diagnosed with this parasitic infection.”
Del Monte has recalled three sizes of vegetable trays that are associated with this outbreak. They are 6 ounce and 12 ounce sizes that contained broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, and dill dip. In addition, Del Monte is recalling their 28 ounce size of vegetables with tip, which also included celery.
The expiration date on those products is June 17, 2018. The vegetable trays were sold at Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Demond’s, Sentry, Potash, Meehan’s, Country Market, FoodMax Supermarket, and Peapod locations in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
Public health officials still have not identified which component of the trays is contaminated. They are conducting traceback investigations and testing the product.
You can contact Fred, an experienced food safety lawyer, by calling 612-338-0202 or 1-888-377-8900.
Fred added, “No one should get sick because they decided to try to eat healthy and purchased a vegetable tray. Our clients have missed work and have accrued large medical bills through no fault of their own.”
The symptoms of cyclosporiasis, which is the illness caused by this parasite, include diarrhea that is explosive and watery, weight loss, loss of appetite, stomach and abdominal cramps and pain, headache, fever, bloating, increased gas, and nausea. A sulfa-based drug is the treatment of choice for this infection, but unfortunately, there is no good alternative treatment for people who are allergic to these types of drugs.
If you have eaten the recalled Del Monte Vegetable Trays and have been sick with these symptoms, see your doctor. Untreated, this infection can last for weeks or months and can recur after the patient thinks they are over the illness.
Cyclospora is a parasite commonly found in tropical or subtropical regions around the globe. The parasite is expelled in feces, and must go through several phased outside the human body before it is infectious. This type of illness is not spread person-to-person.
