Cyclosporiasis has made its way to Palm Beach County. What are the grocery stores saying?
Six people in the county have been infected by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora — which can cause explosive diarrhea — since the start of its latest outbreak on May 1, according to the Florida Department of Health’s July 18 update.
Starting in May, 158 people reported cases in Florida. There were more than 6,700 confirmed cases across the nation, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The latest outbreak of the illness has been linked to Taylor Farms, according to investigations by the Food and Drug Administration, the CDC and state health officials. The company issued a voluntary recall on July 17 of iceberg lettuce products from Taylor Farms de Mexico.
That lettuce was sold to Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia, as well as to retail stores, restaurants and food-service customers.
The recall includes Marketside-brand products sold at Walmart described as “Iceberg Salad 12-oz or 24-oz” and “Shredded Lettuce 8-oz or 16-oz” with best-by dates of July 18 to Aug. 3, according to the FDA.
Other grocery store chains with locations in Palm Beach County sell Taylor Farms products, but were not explicitly listed in the FDA’s report to have sold any of the recalled products.
These include Publix, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, The Fresh Market, Winn-Dixie and Target.
What is Walmart’s response to the Cyclospora outbreak?
Some of the recalled Marketside products were sold at Walmart stores in Florida. Walmart pulled 12-ounce and 24-ounce bags of “Marketside Bagged Iceberg Salad” and 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of “Marketside Bagged Shredded Iceberg Salad.”
“The health and safety of our customers is a top priority,” wrote a Walmart spokesperson in a prepared statement. “Although there is no indication that products sold in our stores are affected by the current Cyclospora investigations, we have removed four bagged iceberg lettuce salad products from select locations as a precaution after receiving notice from our supplier.”
There were no confirmed illnesses among people who ate the Marketside salad as of July 28, the spokesperson said. Walmart instructs people who purchased the bagged iceberg lettuce salads to discard them or return them for a full refund.
What are grocery stores in Palm Beach County saying on the Cyclospora outbreak?
None of the affected products were shipped to The Fresh Market stores, so no products had to be removed from their stores, according to a spokesperson.
“The safety and quality of the products we offer our guests is our highest priority,” wrote The Fresh Market spokesperson in a prepared statement. “We remain in close communication with our suppliers and continue to monitor guidance from regulatory agencies as part of our ongoing commitment to food safety.”
Spokespeople for Whole Foods Market and Winn-Dixie also said that their stores did not carry any of the recalled products linked to the outbreak.
“We continue to monitor information from public health authorities and work closely with our supplier partners as the FDA’s investigation continues,” wrote a Winn-Dixie spokesperson in a prepared statement. “If any products sold in our stores are identified as impacted, we will follow our established recall procedures and communicate promptly. The health and well-being of our customers remain our highest priority.”
The other grocery store chains did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Palm Beach Post.
What is Cyclosporiasis?
Cyclosporiasis is an illness caused by the Cyclospora parasite. People can become infected by consuming either contaminated produce or water. It is not typically spread from person to person.
Outbreaks have been connected to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. Symptoms can start to show from two days to two weeks or more after exposure, according to the CDC. Past outbreaks in the U.S. have been linked to raspberries, cabbage, basil, cilantro, parsley, broccoli, snow peas, sugar snap peas and leafy greens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The most common symptoms include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Less common symptoms include low-grade fever and vomiting, according to the CDC. Most healthy people make a full recovery, but children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to complications.
How to avoid Cyclospora?
Don’t eat food connected with it.
Avoid foods linked to outbreaks and thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating, cutting or cooking it.
The CDC also recommends cooking produce to reach a temperature of at least 158 degrees. Washing alone cannot guarantee the removal of the parasite.
Maya Washburn is a Trending News Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: On Cyclospora, Walmart and local grocery stores respond to outbreak
Reporting by Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Maya Washburn, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
