The FDA now says that Giant Eagle and ShopRite sold Fresh Express made bagged salads that are potentially linked to the cyclospora outbreak that has sickened at least 206 people in eight states. The salads contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. The recalled brands are ALDI Little Salad Bar, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco Signature Farms, Giant Eagle, ShopRite Wholesome Pantry, and Walmart Marketside, and include Fresh Express branded salads.
The recalled products all have the product code Z178 or lower number. You can find the product code on the upper right hand corner of the front of each package. They were sold in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
These products were all made in the Fresh Express production facility in Streamwood, Illinois. They all have the potential to be contaminated with the cyclospora parasite.
The salads may be branded with the Fresh Express label, or may have the retail store name on the package. The best by date of these products runs through July 14, 2020.
The outbreak case count stands at 206 sick, with 23 hospitalized because they are so ill. The epidemiologic and traceback information indicates that the product made at the Fresh Express Streamwood, Illinois facility is a likely cause of this outbreak.
FDA is working with retailers to make sure that these products are removed from store shelves. There may be more recalls issued as the investigation develops.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with food poisoning, you can contact lawyer Fred Pritzker for help by calling 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
Noted food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, “It’s summer in the U.S., so a cyclospora outbreak is occurring. Again. Hundreds are sick just because they bought a bagged salad brand they trusted. These corporations have to do a better job producing food that doesn’t make people sick.”
The symptoms of cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by this microscopic parasite, usually start two to five days after a person eats contaminated food. People usually suffer from weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, low grade fever, nausea, vomiting, cramps, bloating, gas, and diarrhea that is explosive and watery. These symptoms can last for weeks or months if not treated.
There is a treatment for this illness, but it is sulfa based. If a patient is allergic to sulfa there is no really effective treatment.
If you or a loved one have been sickened with a cyclospora infection after eating recalled Fresh Express bagged salads, please contact our experienced attorneys for help at 1-888-377-8900 or 612-338-0202.
