Cyclospora sickens thirteen Minnesotans after they allegedly ate bagged salads sold at ALDI and HyVee stores in that state. These patients are part of a large multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak that started in May 2020 and has sickened dozens in 7 states.
The Minnesota Department of Health is working with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the FDA, and other state’s public health agencies to investigate this outbreak. The salads sold in Minnesota that are believed to be contaminated are ALDI and Hy-Vee store brand “garden salads” that contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots.
The ill Minnesotans range in age from 24 to 79 years. Two of the patients live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Eleven live in greater Minnesota. Illness onset dates range from June 1, 2020 through June 9, 2020.
Cyclosporiasis is caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis. It is usually spread through fresh produce and is not spread person-to-person. You can’t wash cyclospora off produce, and routine chemical disinfection and sanitizing methods won’t kill it. The oocyst develops in the human intestine and is excreted in feces. It must mature for a week or two outside the body before it becomes infectious.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cyclospora food poisoning, you can contact lawyer Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Noted Minneapolis food safety attorney Fred Pritzker, who has represented many clients sickened with cyclsporiasis, said, “It’s summer, so, right on schedule, another cyclospora outbreak has occurred. Produce growers and supermarkets need to do a better job controlling contamination of salads and other foods. This illness can be devastating and long lasting.”
Symptoms of a cyclospora infection include watery and explosive diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps and pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Symptoms usually start two to fourteen days after exposure. And these symptoms can last for weeks or months and suddenly recur if not treated.
If you or someone you know has been ill with these symptoms, especially if you have eaten one of the salads mentioned, call your doctor. You may be part of this cyclospora outbreak.
If you or a loved one have been sickened with a cyclospora infection after eating bagged garden salads, please contact our experienced Minneapolis attorneys for help at 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
