Cyclospora cases linked to McDonald’s salads reach 436
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses likely linked to salads from McDonald’s restaurants.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses likely linked to salads from McDonald’s restaurants. As of August 9, 2018, a total of 436 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants; the cases were reported by 15 states. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is currently reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots.
On July 26, the FDA completed final analysis of an unused package of Fresh Express salad mix containing romaine lettuce and carrots, which had been distributed to McDonald’s. The analysis confirmed the presence of Cyclospora in that sample, though the expiration date for that product, July 19, had already passed. On July 27, the FDA informed Fresh Express of the results and instructed the company to determine whether potentially contaminated product may still be on the market. Fresh Express reported to the FDA that the romaine from the same lot as the positive sample was not packaged for direct retail sale by Fresh Express and had already expired.
As of July 13, McDonald’s decided to voluntarily stop selling salads at impacted restaurants in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri. The fast-food giant has since reported that it has replaced the supplier of salads in those states.