This week, federal health officials announced that more illnesses from cyclospora were reported after eating McDonald’s salads. Currently, 163 (up from 61 last week) people in 10 states- including three hospitalizations but no deaths- have taken ill. The FDA is currently working with McDonald’s to find which salad ingredients are making people sick and then to trace them through the supply chain.
According to the CDC, the cyclospora parasite causes intestinal illness as a result of consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms, which can start a week or more after consuming the parasite, can include diarrhea and frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements. Infected individuals might experience loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps or pain, nausea, gas, and fatigue as well as vomiting, headache, fever, body aches and flu-like symptoms.
The illness can last from a few days to a few months and it’s possible that once someone begins to feel better they might get worse again. Ccyclospora can be treated with antibiotics.
“As a precaution, McDonald’s has stopped selling the salads in 3,000 fast food restaurants in 14 states to try to contain the outbreak, the FDA said. The states are Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia and Missouri.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 237 cases of cyclosporiasis in people who reportedly consumed Del Monte Fresh vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and dill dip. The reports came from four states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa. Seven people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported.”1
However, health officials haven’t found any evidence to suggest that the illnesses linked to McDonald’s salads are related to the ongoing cyclospora outbreak linked to Del Monte Fresh vegetable trays.
On June 15th, a recall was issued for 6-ounce, 12-ounce and 28-ounce trays containing items in clear, plastic clamshell packaging. The trays had a “Best if used by” date of June 17, 2018, and were sold at Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Demond’s, Sentry, Potash, Meehan’s, Country Market, FoodMax Supermarket, and Peapod stores in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
