Trader Joe's has voluntarily recalled fresh basil sold in more than half of U.S. states because the herb has been linked to a salmonella outbreak.
The product in question is Infinite Herbs brand organic basil sold in 2.5-ounce clamshell packaging between Feb. 1 and April 6, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Trader Joe’s has already removed the basil from stores shelves, the FDA said. It was sold at stores in 29 states: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, and Wisconsin.
The supplier of the basil—Infinite Herbs, LLC, of Miami, Florida—is cooperating with an ongoing FDA investigation that also involves the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state and local health agencies.
The CDC has identified 12 people with salmonella across seven of the 29 states where the basil was sold. The majority of those people reported exposure to fresh basil sold at Trader Joe’s before they fell ill, the FDA said.
Of the dozen illnesses, one person required hospitalization. No deaths have been reported, according to the CDC.
Health officials are still working to identify the source of the contamination and whether any additional products are involved.
Eating food contaminated with salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 hours to 6 days after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some cases, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness.
Customers who purchased the basil should discard the product or return it to any Trader Joe’s store for a full refund, the company said.
Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe's Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 or by email.