https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2018/07/20/mcdonalds-tainted-salads-sickened-people-cyclospora-parasite-fecal-matter/806682002/
Contamination problem: McDonald's tainted salads have now sickened 163 people in 10 states
"We have removed lettuce blend provided by Fresh Express’ Streamwood, Illinois, facility," the fast-food burger chain said in a statement Friday. "Many restaurants already have a new lettuce blend supply, while we expect all identified restaurants will have new supply in the next few days."
The illnesses started on or after May 1, according to the FDA. The sick people are between the ages of 16 and 87 years old and 66 percent are female. No deaths have been reported.
"At this time, despite the intensive investigation by federal authorities and state health agencies around the country, no source has yet been named for this outbreak," Fresh Express said in an e-mail. "The decision by McDonald’s to change suppliers of certain components should in no way suggest that Fresh Express is implicated as a source."
Illnesses that started after June 7 may not have been reported yet because there's a lag time between when people get sick and when they report it, the FDA said. For Cyclospora infections, it may take up to six weeks to be clearly identified.
Excerpt from FDA about this. More at link.
https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm613513.htm
Fast Facts
The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses likely linked to salads from McDonald's restaurants.
On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed final analysis of an unused package of Fresh Express salad mix containing romaine lettuce and carrots, which had been distributed to McDonald's. The analysis confirmed the presence of Cyclospora in that sample, though the expiration date for that product, July 19, had already passed. On July 27, the FDA informed Fresh Express of the results.
FDA instructed Fresh Express to determine whether potentially contaminated product may still be on the market. Fresh Express reported to FDA that the romaine from the same lot as the positive sample was not packaged for direct retail sale by Fresh Express and had already expired. Fresh Express committed to using recall procedures to inform those companies that received this romaine about the sample result. Fresh Express also reported that carrots used in the mix were only sent to McDonald's locations.
On July 30, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert on beef, pork and poultry salad and wrap products potentially contaminated with Cyclospora that were distributed by Caito Foods LLC, of Indianapolis, IN. The products were produced between July 15 and 18, 2018, with either “Best By,” “Enjoy by,” “Best if Sold By” or “Sell By” dates ranging from July 18 through July 23, 2018. Caito Foods had received notification from Fresh Express that the chopped romaine in these products was being recalled.
The CDC reports that 286 people in 15 states have become ill. There have been 11 hospitalizations and no deaths.
The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots.
= new reply since forum marked as read
