Federal and state agencies are investigating a six-state outbreak of cyclospora illnesses with 76 cases linked to garden salad from Aldi, Hy-Vee and Jewel-Osco stores.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has analyzed epidemiologic information that indicates bagged salads from the stores are the likely cause of the illnesses.
The FDA is tracing the source of the salads to determine the supplier and distributors to find the cause and the source of the outbreak, according to a news release.
The “garden salads” are private label brands for the three retailers, and contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage and carrots. Other store brand salads are not involved in the outbreak, according to the release. The labels are Aldi Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salad, Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salad and Signature Farms Brand Garden Salad from Jewel-Osco.
Onset dates range from May 11 to June 14.
As of June 20, illnesses are in:
- Iowa, with 28;
- Illinois, with 23;
- Kansas, with 1;
- Minnesota, with 10;
- Missouri with 7; and
- Nebraska, with 7.
“FDA is in the beginning stages of this investigation and there may be additional retailers and products impacted by this outbreak,” according to the FDA’s June 20 notice on the Cyclospora outbreak. “As this outbreak investigation continues, the FDA will provide additional updates to this advisory as more information becomes available.”
The Produce Marketing Association also issued a notice about the outbreak with a link to a 2019 report from an industry-led Blue Ribbon Panel on the Prevention of Foodborne Cyclospora Outbreaks.
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