According to the FDA, the Fresh Express salad cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least 509 people in 8 states as of July 8, 2020. That's an increase of more than 300 new cases since the last update on June 29, 2020. Thirty-three people are hospitalized because they are so ill. There is also a cyclospora outbreak in Canada, with exposure to certain Fresh Express salad products as a likely source of these infections. The case count by state is: Iowa (160), Illinois (151), Kansas (5), Minnesota (63), Missouri (46), Nebraska (48), North Dakota (6), and Wisconsin (30). The illness onset dates rate from 5/11/2020 to 7/1/2020. The investigation includes Fresh Express salads containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots that were sold in several regions of the United States. The … [Read more...]
Think You Have Cyclospora? Here’s What to Ask Your Doctor About Testing
A multistate cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least 206 people across the Midwest. The outbreak is potentially linked to bagged salads containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots that was produced by Fresh Express and allegedly sold at Hy Vee, Giant Eagle, ShopRite, ALDI, Walmart, and Jewel Osco stores in many states. So do you think you have cyclospora? Here's what to ask your doctor about testing. First, the stool test for cyclospora has to be specially requested. It's not a common test that is routinely conducted. Anecdotal evidence we have heard is that many people are told by their doctors that their is no need for a test, or that there is no test for this parasite. Both of these statements are false. For the best outcome, a test definitively finding cyclospora … [Read more...]
If You Have Cyclospora Symptoms, Please Get Tested For the Parasite
For many reasons, probably including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, these days many people are reluctant to go to the doctor if they are sick. This can lead to disastrous consequences. In the field of food poisoning, these patients may be misdiagnosed, go undiagnosed, and may suffer permanent lifelong health consequences if not treated. If you have cyclospora symptoms, please get tested for the parasite. There is an ongoing cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. that is linked to recalled Fresh Express bagged salads. The salads were sold at these stores: Hy Vee, Giant Eagle, ShopRite, ALDI, Walmart, and Jewel Osco in many states. At least 206 people in 8 states in the midwest are sick. The case count by states as of June 29, 2020 is: Iowa (74), Illinois (57), Kansas (1), Minnesota … [Read more...]
Giant Eagle and ShopRite Sold Fresh Express Bagged Salads
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, … [Read more...]
Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak: Walmart Product Added, 206 Sick
The bagged salad cyclospora outbreak has been updated by the FDA. A new product has been added to the list of salads in the outbreak: Walmart's Marketside Classic Iceberg Salad sold in 12 and 24 ounce sizes. The FDA has named Fresh Express as the producer of these salads. And there are now 206 people in 8 states sick in this outbreak. North Dakota has been added to the outbreak list. The case count by state is: Iowa (74), Illinois (57), Kansas (1), Minnesota (25), Missouri (10), Nebraska (20), North Dakota (6), and Wisconsin (13). Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And the illness onset dates range from May 11, 2020 through June 17, 2020. The bagged salad products potentially linked to this outbreak include ALDI Little Salad Bar Garden Salads, … [Read more...]
Recent Cyclospora Outbreaks in U.S. Sicken Thousands Linked to Produce
It's just like clockwork. Every summer, at least one cyclospora outbreak is announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These outbreaks are always linked to fresh produce that does not go through a kill step such as heating before consumers eat it. Let's look back at the recent cyclospora outbreaks in the U.S. First, Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that uses a human host to reproduce and travel. When a person ingests a major oocyst, it breaks apart in the intestine, causes damage, and uses human cells to reproduce. It is excreted in feces, where it matures in the environment, contaminates food through waste in the fields, contamination along the food chain, or contaminated irrigation water, and the process repeats. Cyclospora Outbreaks in … [Read more...]
Iowa Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to Bagged Salads Sickens at Least 54
The Iowa cyclospora outbreak linked to ALDI, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco bagged gardens salads is the largest in the country with 54 sick, according to the Iowa Department of Health. The larger multistate outbreak has now sickened at least 122 people in 7 states. All of those bagged salads were recalled this week. They are Hy-Vee Garden Salad, ALDI Little Salad Bar Garden Salad, and Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Garden Salads. Illinois and Iowa are the only two states with cases linked to all three store brands, although Wisconsin may be added to that list. Public health officials think there may be more products linked to this outbreak and are launching traceback investigations. Fresh Express produced these salads for the private brands. If you live in Iowa and have purchased bagged … [Read more...]
Nine Sick in Wisconsin Cyclospora Salad Outbreak From ALDI Hy Vee
There are nine sick in the Wisconsin cyclospora salad outbreak that is linked to bagged salads sold at ALDI and Hy-Vee stores in that state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health. These patients are part of a larger multistate outbreak that has sickened at least 122 people in 7 states as of June 23, 2020. The garden salads in question contain iceberg lettuce, shredded carrots, and red cabbage. The Hy Vee product is called Garden Salad. The ALDI product is called Little Salad Bar Garden Salad. Both were produced by Fresh Express. Both salads were recalled this week. Jewel Osco is another brand that has been implicated in the larger outbreak, but no Wisconsin illnesses have been linked to that specific product at this time. If you live in Wisconsin and have purchased … [Read more...]
Illinois Cyclospora Outbreak Linked to ALDI HyVee Jewel Salads Sickens 30
The Illinois cyclospora outbreak that is linked to ALDI, Hy Vee, and Jewel Osco garden salads produced by Fresh Express has sickened at least 30 people in that state, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The last update by that department was on June 20, 2020 and stated 23 illnesses, but the FDA and CDC have updated the case counts since then. Illinois officials and the CDC and FDA have stated that these may not be the only products linked to this outbreak. IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said in a statement, "Although a link has been made to Cyclospora in some Illinois cases, public health officials continue to investigate other sources. If you consumed store brand packaged garden salads since May and then developed watery diarrhea, please contact a health care … [Read more...]
Swan Bros. Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak Sickens 10 in Oklahoma
A raw milk Campylobacter outbreak in Oklahoma that has sickened ten people is linked to Swan Bros. Dairy, which is located in Claremore. The dairy is recalling its raw milk products, according to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. Officials found Campylobacter jejuni in the products. The recalled items are: raw whole milk, raw 2% milk, raw skim milk, and raw heavy cream. They were sold in plastic half-gallons, gallon, and pints directly from the dairy. The milk was sold between April 9, 2020, and June 22, 2020. Raw milk has not been pasteurized, which is a process of briefly heating the milk to destroy pathogens. Because a cow's udders are so close to her anus, milk can be contaminated with many different pathogens, including Campylobacter, E. coli, … [Read more...]
