Bagged Salad Under Investigation As Source Of Stomach Bug
July 31, 2013 
[Updated Aug. 5 for named source of illness in two states from FDA]
A prepackaged salad mix is being looked into as the cause of a Cyclospora outbreak that, as of July 30, sickened 378 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People have become ill in 16 states, including, Iowa, Texas, Nebraska, Florida, Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia, Missouri, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio.
Information on the CDC’s website indicates that most people fell ill between mid-June through early July. At least 21 people reportedly have been hospitalized in three states.
Cyclospora is said to be a rare parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness. To date, Nebraska and Iowa have performed investigations within their states.
Steven Mandernach, chief of the Food and Consumer Safety Bureau of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA), said epidemiological data and food history interviews conducted with ill Iowans links a bagged salad mix with the foodborne illness.
“The evidence points to a salad mix containing iceberg and romaine lettuce, as well as carrots and red cabbage as the source of the outbreak reported in Iowa and Nebraska,” Mandernach said, adding: “Iowans should continue eating salads as the implicated prepackaged mix is no longer in the state’s food supply chain.”
Once epidemiological results from the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was provided to DIA, the Department’s food inspection staff traced potential products through the food distribution and production system. DIA’s investigation found an exposure to a common prepackaged salad mix from a single source in approximately 80% of the cases. “Additionally, food histories are challenging as individuals do not always remember the foods eaten during the past several weeks,” Mandernach added.
Compounding the state’s investigation was the fact that by the time the parasitic-induced illness was identified, most if not all of the suspect product was no longer on the shelves. “Because it can take more than a week for the first symptoms to appear after ingesting the contaminated food, there wasn’t a product on the shelf to be examined for the parasite. As a result, most of the foodborne illness investigation focused on trying to traceback suspected food products through the food chain,” Mandernach explained.
The statewide investigation was conducted jointly by DIA, IDPH, the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL), local health departments, and officials in Nebraska who were investigating a related outbreak. Despite the challenges of the investigation, Mandernach said a number of successes were also recognized, including the initial detection of the cyclospora by the SHL technicians. “Additionally, the investigation was helped by the excellent communication and collaboration between the involved local, state, and federal agencies, and the cooperation of the public, medical providers, and the food industry,” he added.
FDA has named a produce farm in Mexico – Taylor Farms de Mexico – as the source of the stomach bug-illness in two states, according to reports.
For more information, click here for the CDC’s website. For additional details on the outbreak from IDPH, click here.
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