(WWJ) The FDA issued a public warning saying shoppers should avoid a variety of "garden salad mix" products from Aldi, Hy-Vee and Jewel-Osco because of a likely link to infections caused by cyclospora. Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that can affect the intestinal tract.
The mixes in question were manufactured by Fresh Express and contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and carrots. Get details HERE on the mixes and what to do if you bought them or believe you were infected.
Affected garden salad mixes include all Hy-Vee's store-brand garden salad sold in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska; Aldi's Little Salad Bar brand garden salad sold in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri; and Jewel-Osco's Signature Farms brand garden salad sold in Illinois.
Hy-Vee and Jewel-Osco announced voluntary recalls of potentially contaminated products on Saturday, followed later by Aldi.
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local partners, have likely linked a new outbreak of illnesses caused by cyclospora to certain store-brand 'garden salad mix' products from Hy-Vee, Aldi and Jewel-Osco, predominantly in Midwestern states," Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the FDA, said in a statement. "The FDA is working with the companies to determine the source of the products, but in the meantime, we are issuing a public warning to consumers to avoid the identified products to prevent additional infections."
As of June 19, 76 illnesses potentially linked to the outbreak were reported, including 16 hospitalizations, according to the FDA. No deaths have been reported. Cyclospora infections included 28 in Iowa, 23 in Illinois, 10 in Minnesota, seven in Missouri, seven in Nebraska and one in Kansas.
Aldi said it had pulled Little Salad Bar Garden Salad from select stores "out of an abundance of caution and in cooperation with Fresh Express." The product was sold in a 12 oz. bag and has a UPC code of 4099100082975 and "best by" dates of May 1 to June 29. Aldi removed the item from stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
"No other Aldi products are affected," Aldi said in a statement. "If customers have the affected Little Salad Bar Garden Salad, they should discard it immediately. Aldi sincerely regrets any inconvenience and concern this voluntary recall may cause."
The FDA warned this may not be the end of the bagged salad recalls.
"FDA is in the beginning stages of this investigation and there may be additional retailers and products impacted by this outbreak. As this outbreak investigation continues, the FDA will provide additional updates to this advisory as more information becomes available," the FDA wrote in a press release.
