A bagged salad cyclospora outbreak has sickened 76 people in 6 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The salads include ALDI Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salad, Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salad, and Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Garden Salad. Investigators are trying to determine if other products may also be a source of these illnesses.
The patient case count by state is: Iowa (28), Illinois (23), Kansas (1), Minnesota (10), Missouri (7), and Nebraska (7). Sixteen people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The patient age range is from 16 to 92 years. And illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 to June 14, 2020.
Cyclospora outbreaks have happened every year in the United States for the past several years. Last year, at least 2400 people were sickened with this infection. Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that causes a severe diarrheal illness that can last for months if untreated. The parasite is excreted in human feces and must mature for a few weeks before it becomes infectious. It is commonly found on salads, raspberries, basil, and
The salads were sold in Iowa, Illinois, Kanas, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska. The ALDI Little Salad Bar Garden Salad was sold in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Minnesota. The Hy-Vee Garden Salad was sold in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and Nebraska. And the Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Garden Salad was sold in Illinois. If you purchased any of these salads, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed container in a secure garbage can, or take them back to the store where you purchased them for a full refund.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cyclosporiasis, you can contact Minnesota lawyer Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Noted food safety attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented many people sickened with cyclosporiasis in lawsuits, said, “Just like clockwork, another Cyclospora outbreak has sickened dozens of people who just wanted a salad for lunch. And again, food growers and processors have to take responsibility for this outbreak. They are legally obliged to sell food that is safe to eat.”
Epidemiological evidence indicate that those salads are the likely source of this outbreak. At least 20 people in this cluster shopped at ALDI, and 80% of those people specifically reported eating bagged salad mix. At least 37 patients shopped at Hy-Vee, and 43% of that group bought bagged salad mix. And at least 6 people in this culture showed at Jewel-Osco, and 80% of that group bought bagged salad mix. Most of those people reported eating the salads named in this outbreak notice.
This outbreak will most likely grow. There is typically a four to six week time lag between when a person consumes the parasite, gets sick, visits a doctor, and is diagnosed.
Symptoms of a cyclospora infection include explosive and profuse diarrhea that can last for months, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, body aches, and fever. These symptoms can go away and recur without warning for months, so patients often can’t leave the house.
There is a treatment for this infection which is a sulfa drug. Unfortunately, for patients allergic to sulfa, there is no good alternative treatment.
If you have been experiencing these symptoms, especially if you have eaten the bagged salads mentioned above, see your doctor. You may be part of this bagged salad cyclospora outbreak.
If you or a loved one have been sickened with a cyclospora infection after eating recalled ALDI, Hy-Vee, or Jewel Osco bagged garden salads from Fresh Express, please contact our experienced attorneys for help at 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
