As the bagged salad Cyclospora outbreak grows, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has begun an investigation of the Fresh Express plant in Streamwood, IL where all of the salads linked to the outbreak were produced. This is the second time in two years that salad produced by Fresh Express at that location has been linked to a Cyclospora outbreak. In 2018, more than 500 people were sickened in a Cyclospora outbreak linked to salads sold at McDonald’s restaurants. The salads were produced at the Fresh Express Streamwood plant.
In connection with the ongoing outbreak, Fresh Express issued a recall affecting 31 states and the District of Columbia for all branded and private label bagged salads containing iceberg lettuce, carrots and red cabbage days after the outbreak topped 200 illnesses. (July 9th Update: The FDA has announced that 509 people have now been identified as having been sickened in this outbreak)
Pritzker Hageman Cyclospora Lawyers are representing people sickened in this outbreak, contact us today for a free consultation.
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All Fresh Express bagged salads and bagged salads sold under store brand names at ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, ShopRite and Walmart containing iceberg lettuce, carrots and red cabbage with product codes of Z178 or a lower number are included in the recall.
The recalled bagged salads were sold between June 6 and July 4 (with sell by dates going out through July 14th) in the following states: Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
ALDI, Giant Eagle, Hy-Vee, Jewel-Osco, ShopRite, and Walmart all sold private label salads that are part of this recall. Other stores may be added to that list as the FDA uncovers more information, the agency said.
- ALDI Bagged Salad Cylospora Recall
- Giant Eagle Bagged Salad Cylospora Recall
- Hy-Vee Bagged Salad Cylospora Recall
- Jewel-Osco Bagged Salad Cylospora Recall
- ShopRite Bagged Salad Cylospora Recall
- Walmart Bagged Salad Cylospora Recall
How Does Cyclospora Get in Bagged Salad?
Cyclospora is a parasite historically associated with travel to tropical and sub-tropical climates. Humans are the only known reservoir of the parasite which is shed in their stool. People get Cyclospora infections when they eat food contaminated with microscopic amounts of fecal matter from an infected person. This can happen if workers who have Cyclospora infections handle food without washing hands properly after using the bathroom; if water is used to grow or process produce has not been treated to kill parasites and other pathogens; if portable toilet facilities in growing fields are not used by employees; or if they are not properly cleaned and maintained or if the waste is not disposed of properly.
In its investigation of the Fresh Express facility in Streamwood, IL, the FDA will be collecting and testing environmental swabs to see which areas of the facility may have been contaminated with the parasite. They will also be testing products and collecting records about where each of the implicated ingredients was grown so they can test those areas for contamination as well.
Pritzker Hageman Cyclospora lawyers have represented clients in every major Cyclospora outbreak in the U.S including this one and the 2018 McDonald’s outbreak. If you got sick from contaminated salad, we can help. For a free consultation with our experienced legal team, please call 1-888-377-8900, send a text 612-261-0856, or complete the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.