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Bagged Salad Linked to Cyclospora Outbreak

Last Updated: 28 June, 2020

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 200 cases of  Cyclospora infections which included 23 hospitalizations so far. Recalls have been issued and the agencies are advising consumers to avoid select store brands of garden salad mixes. So far, the stores suspected to have the contaminated salad mixes include Walmart, Hy-Vee, Aldi, and Jewel-Osco stores. According to the FDA, all of the recalled salads were manufactured by a Fresh Express production facility in Streamwood, Illinois. Fresh Express has issued a voluntary recall of dozens of branded and private label salad products produced at their Illinois facility and distributed to retail stores between June 6th and June 26th. The salad mixes in question are said to contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and/or carrot ingredients. Another way to identify the affected salad mixes is to check the product code which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the front of the package, the product code of the recalled salad mixes is Z178.

The recalled salad mixes are suspected to be the cause of a Cyclospora outbreak. According to the CDC, Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis that can cause symptoms including loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, bloating, stomach cramps, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue.

Both the FDA and the CDC have advised consumers to check their bagged salad products and to dispose of any product included in the recall. The contaminated product was distributed to 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.

Customers with questions or who would like to receive a refund have been directed to call the Fresh Express Consumer Response Center at 800-242-5472 on Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time.

If you purchased and consumed the infected salad mix and became ill, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at Spiros Law are trained in dealing with foodborne illness claims and help answer your questions and can help you seek justice. Spiros Law offers completely free consultations. If you think you were adversely affected by consuming the contaminated salad product call (815) 929-9292 to speak with an attorney today. Speaking with one of the Spiros Law attorneys or staff members is costs nothing and our clients never pay anything out of pocket.