FDA Investigating Minnesota Illness From Bagged Salads
Health officials are investigating a recent multi-state outbreak of Cyclospora - which they have linked to certain brands of bagged salads. Minnesota joins Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska with cases of people becoming sick.
According to U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the cases of Cyclospora have been linked to specific brands of bagged salad:
- ALDI Little Salad Bar brand Garden Salad - available at ALDI Grocery stores
- Hy-Vee brand Garden Salad - available from Hy-Vee grocery stores
- Signature Farms brand Garden Salad - available from Jewel-Osco
While the investigation is still in the early stages, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is suggesting that these brands of bagged salads are the likely source. The USFDA has started to "back-investigate" to determine the supplier and distribution information to fully-locate the "cause and source of the outbreak".
News sources are reporting that the cases of Cyclospora in Minnesota aren't linked to a specific part of the state. "Illnesses in Minnesota were reported June 1-9 and affected people ages 24 to 79 years of age. Two are metro area residents and 11 are from Greater Minnesota. No cases required hospitalization."
Because this outbreak is in its early stages, authorities caution the general public that additional brands of bagged salads and additional grocery stores may be added to the list of potential sources. The United States Food and Drug Administration alerts consumers to continue to look for updates on this situation.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the symptoms of Cyclospora include:
"...loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. People may also experience vomiting, body aches, headache, low-grade fever, and other flu-like symptoms. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms. If not treated, the illness may last from a few days to a month or longer. Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times (relapse). It’s common to feel very tired."
Health officials warn that the infection time range is usually about one week from ingesting the parasite until symptoms show up.