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BREAKING NEWS: MINNESOTA - Bad Basil Sickens Some In Twin Ports
Imported basil sickened nine people at two restaurants in the Twin Ports in June as part of a multi-state cyclospora illness outbreak, according to the Minnesota Department of Health
No Ongoing Risk, Health Department Says
Written By: News Tribune | Jul 26th 2019
Imported basil sickened nine people at two restaurants in the Twin Ports in June as part of a multi-state cyclospora illness outbreak, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.
The department said there were four lab-confirmed cases from Outback Steakhouse in Hermantown and five cases from meals catered by Duluth Grill at a Duluth conference. There were 26 confirmed cases at City Market in Rochester. None of the Minnesota cases required hospitalization.
"It's important to note that the illnesses are the result of contaminated imported food product, not anything the restaurants did or did not do," department spokesman Doug Schultz said. "We have no evidence of any ongoing risk at the restaurants involved."
The contaminated basil was exported from Mexico to the United States by Siga Logistics de RL de CV, according to the Food and Drug Administration; the company has agreed to a voluntary recall.
There have been four hospitalizations out of 132 total illnesses in 11 states since the cyclospora outbreak was first reported in late June, according to the FDA. The last reported illness came on July 9.
Cyclospora is a parasite that is transmitted when infected feces contaminated food or water and can take about a week from infection to sickness; symptoms include diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and fatigue.
Lead Photo: Basil seedlings. Credit: extension.umn.edu
US: FDA Investigates More Cyclospora Outbreaks
Although Cyclospora outbreaks in the US happen less frequently than those caused by typical pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria, the recent salad mix outbreaks occurring in July and August of this year are sadly familiar. Food Engineering already reported on similar events in a news item entitled “Cyclospora outbreak traced to pre-packaged salad mix.” Now, Cyclospora certainly has the FDA’s attention.
Recently, some 630 people from 25 American states were infected, according to the CDC. Officials in Nebraska said the salad mix contained iceberg and romaine lettuce, red cabbage and carrots, and was sold via a national distribution chain. By the time the final tallies were made, the offending salad mixes were out of the supply chain.
An August 23, 2018, FDA update showed that this summer’s Cyclospora infection afflicted people who consumed salads from McDonald’s restaurants. Though the investigation is still ongoing, cases were reported in 15 states and New York City, resulting in 507 illnesses and 24 hospitalizations. Infections were reported in July and August 2018. The FDA has been reviewing distribution and supplier information for romaine and carrots.
But McDonald’s salads weren’t the only product affected. On July 30, 2018, the USDA issued a public health alert on beef, pork and poultry salad wrap products potentially contaminated with Cyclospora that were distributed by Caito Foods LLC, Indianapolis. Caito Foods had received notification from Fresh Express that the chopped romaine in these products was being recalled.
Publication date : 10/16/2018