The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed a total of 476 cyclospora illnesses in 15 states linked to salads sold at McDonald’s restaurants in an August 16th update. According to FDA, the salad ingredients were supplied by a company that has also been implicated in a separate fruit-related outbreak that was declared over last month.

The FDA has named Indianapolis-based Caito Foods LLC—the same supplier named in a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak linked to pre-cut fruit. That outbreak sickened 77 people in 9 states between April and July. The contaminated fruits included fresh-cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe and fresh-cut mixed fruit products.

As of July 13, McDonald’s voluntarily stopped selling the implicated salads in 14 states. The fast-food chain now has a new salad supplier in those states.

On July 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a public health alert on beef, pork and poultry salad and wrap products potentially contaminated with Cyclospora that were distributed by Caito Foods. The alert was prompted by a notification from Fresh Express—who supplied salads to McDonald’s—that the chopped romaine in these products was being recalled.

The FDA has stated they have no evidence to suggest that the McDonald’s/Fresh Express/Caito Foods Cyclospora outbreak is connected to the recent Del Monte vegetable tray Cyclospora outbreak.

According to foodsafetymagazine.com, the FDA and USDA continue to investigate this outbreak, and they are reviewing distribution and supplier details.

Publication date: 8/20/2018