The McDonald's Fresh Express salad cyclospora outbreak appears to be over, according to the CDC. As of September 11, 2018, 551 people are sick in 15 states and New York City. They consumed "a variety of salads" from McDonald's restaurants in the Midwest. Twenty-four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence showed that salads purchased from McDonald's restaurants were the likely source of this outbreak. The salad supplier, Fresh Express, provided an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's; FDA analysis confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in that sample. No single source or point of contamination for this outbreak was found. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier … [Read more...]
Illinois Hit Hard by McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak; Lawsuits Filed
For some reason, Illinois is the state that is hardest hit by the McDonald's Fresh Express Cyclospora outbreak. At least 273 people out of the 507 sickened in this huge outbreak live in Illinois. In total, 24 people have been hospitalized because their symptoms were so severe. The rest of the people affected by this outbreak live in Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Officials have not explained why, even though McDonald's sells salads in their restaurants throughout the country, the outbreak has centered on the midwest. The FDA investigation has zeroed in on a Fresh Express salad mix containing romaine lettuce and carrots that was distributed to McDonald's. Investigators found cyclospora parasites in that sample. … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 476; Lawsuits Are Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak linked to their salads has now sickened 476 people, according to the FDA. These ill persons live in 15 states. Twenty-one people have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (98), Illinois (246), Indiana (8), Kentucky (8), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), Ohio (15), South Dakota (18), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (10). The patients in Connecticut, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida purchased McDonald's salads while traveling in another state. In the investigation, FDA officials analyzed an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix produced by Fresh Express in Streamwood, Illinois. They found cyclospora in the product. Fresh Express told the FDA … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 436; Lawsuits Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak that is linked to McDonald's salads has now sickened 436 people in 15 states. Twenty people have been hospitalized. The last reported illness started on July 20, 2018. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (95), Illinois (219), Indiana (1), Kentucky (8), Michigan (2), Minnesota (9), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), Ohio (15), South Dakota (14), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (10). The patients from Connecticut, Tennessee, and Virginia bought salads from McDonald's while traveling in Illinois. The Florida patient purchased a McDonald's salad while traveling in Kentucky. McDonald's stopped serving salads at 3,000 restaurants in the midwest on July 13, 2018. They replaced the supplier of … [Read more...]
FDA Confirms Cyclospora in Fresh Express Salads Sold to McDonald’s; Lawsuits Filed
The FDA has confirmed the presence of cyclospora in a salad mix produced by Fresh Express and sold to McDonald's. McDonald's salads are a possible source of a cyclospora outbreak that has sickened at least 286 people in 15 states and has hospitalized 11. The number of illnesses has not been updated in this most recent update. The analysis was completed in July 26, 2018 using a "new laboratory method." The FDA set up a multidisciplinary workgroup in 2015 to privatize the development, validation, and implementation of a method for detecting cyclospora in fresh produce. The Fresh Express salad mixes in question, containing romaine lettuce and carrots, expired on July 19, 2018. The romaine lettuce was not packaged for retail sale to consumers. And the carrots in the sampled salad mix … [Read more...]
