A Listeria outbreak that may be associated with Fresh Express fresh salad items is referenced in a massive recall notice posted by the company. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has not announced the outbreak, but the FDA has. However, a December 18, 2021 press release issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that they found Listeria monocytogenes in the company's Sweet Hearts Romaine Lettuce Sweet Butter Lettuce. At that point Fresh Express had notified grocery stores that salads packaged in their Streamwood, IL facility should be recalled. Fresh Express did not issue a public recall notice by press release until December 20th. In its recall notice Fresh Express stated that there are: "ten illnesses associated with the strain … [Read more...]
Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak is Number Two Outbreak of 2020
The bagged salad cyclospora outbreak that sickened at least 701 people in 14 states is the number two multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020. Thirty-eight people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The bagged salad was produced by Fresh Express and contained carrots, red cabbage, and iceberg lettuce. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Illinois (211), Iowa (206), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (4), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (47). Illness onset dates ranged from May 11, 2020 through July 24, 2020. The patient age range is from 11 years to 92 years. Exposures were reported in these 13 states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, … [Read more...]
Expired Fresh Express Caesar Salad Recalled For Possible E. coli O26
Expired Fresh Express Caesar Salad Kits are being recalled for possible E. coli O26 contamination. The recall is for product that is eight days past its use by date. Some of this product may still be in consumers' homes, although that is unlikely. This salad kit was sold mostly in western and southwestern U.S. states. The "possible distribution" includes these states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. This recall is not posted on the USDA or FDA web sites, but was released by the company. The recalled product is a "limited number" of cases of expired 10.5 ounce packages of Fresh Express Kit Caesar Supreme. The use by date printed on the package is November 8, 2020. The … [Read more...]
Canadian Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak Ends With 370 Sick
The Canadian bagged salad cyclospora outbreak has ended, according to Public Health Canada, with at least 370 sick in six provinces, as of November 4, 2020. Exposure to some Fresh Express brand salad products were identified as a "likely source" for some of the illnesses in this outbreak. The notice states that "the outbreak appears to be over and the investigation is winding down." There was a similar cyclospora outbreak in the United States this summer. That outbreak, which sickened at least 701 people, was also associated with Fresh Express salad products that were made with iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. Some of the recalled brand names in the United States included ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, ShopRite, and Walmart. In Canada, the patient case count by … [Read more...]
Fresh Express Cyclospora Warning Letter Sent by FDA
The FDA has sent a Fresh Express cyclospora warning letter as part of the investigation into the multistate foodborne illness outbreak of cyclosporiasis in the summer of 2020. The outbreak sickened at least 701 people in 14 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA determined that Fresh Express bagged salad mixes that contained iceberg lettuce, carrots, and red cabbage was the source of this outbreak. There was also a Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak in 2018 associated with McDonald's salads that sickened more than 500 people. The product in question was manufactured at the company's facility in Streamwood, Illinois. The presence of Cyclospora cayetanensis in the bagged salads cause them to be adulterated per the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. … [Read more...]
Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Ends, According to CDC
The Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with at least 701 people sick in 14 states. Thirty eight people were hospitalized, and no deaths were reported. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Illinois (211), Iowa (206), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (4), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (47). Illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 through July 24, 2020. The patient age range is from 11 year to 92 years. Exposures were reported in these 13 states: Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and … [Read more...]
Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Ends With 701 Sick
The Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak has ended with 701 sick, according to an update by the FDA. Thirty eight people have been hospitalized; there were no deaths reported. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Illinois (211), Iowa (206), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (4), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (47). Illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 through July 24, 2020. The outbreak was linked to Fresh Express salad products that were made with iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots. Many products were recalled, including Fresh Express branded products as well as products made by Fresh Express for retail store brands including ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, … [Read more...]
What Happened to the Fresh Express Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak?
It has been almost a month since the FDA or CDC has updated the Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak. The last update in the U.S., published on August 14, 2020, listed 690 people sick in 13 states, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois hardest hit. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized. In Canada, where the last update was posted on July 8, 2020, 37 people in three provinces were sick. Fresh Express recalled products containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, or carrots with the product code Z178 or lower in June 2020, with more updates issued later. The salads were sold under several brand names, including ALDI, Hy Vee, Jewel Osco, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and ShopRite. The best by dates on the recalled products ran through July 14, 2020. Based on traceback, the carrots are … [Read more...]
Canal Water Positive for Cyclospora, U.S. Farms Grew Products
The FDA has updated its investigation into the Cyclospora outbreak linked to Fresh Express salads and has found canal water positive for cyclospora. They have identified several farms in the U.S. that may have provided product used in those recalled salads. And now 690 people in 13 states are sick with cyclosporiasis. That is an increase of 49 more cases since the last update on July 24, 2020. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Iowa (206), Illinois (209), Kansas (5), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (86), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), and Wisconsin (45). Illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 to July 20, 2020. FDA's traceback investigation is complete, but they have … [Read more...]
Now 641 Sick in Fresh Express Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak
As of July 22, 2020, there are 641 people sick in 11 states in the Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak. That's an increase of 132 more patients since the last update on July 9, 2020. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. There is also an outbreak in Canada that has sickened people in three provinces that is also linked to Fresh Express salad products. The case count by state is: Georgia (1), Iowa (195), Illinois (198), Kansas (5), Minnesota (73), Missouri (57), Nebraska (55), North Dakota (6), Pennsylvania (2), South Dakota (13), andWisconsin (36). The illness onset date range is from May 11, 2020 to July 5, 2020. The outbreak is potentially linked to Fresh Express bagged salad products that contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and … [Read more...]
