The CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to bagged salad mix containing carrots, red cabbage, and iceberg lettuce purchased at ALDI, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco stores in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

According to public health authorities, 122 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections and who reported eating bagged salad mix before getting sick have been reported from 7 Midwestern states (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin).

Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 11, 2020 to June 15, 2020; 19 people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that ALDI Little Salad Bar brand Garden Salad, Hy-Vee brand Garden Salad, or Jewel-Osco brand Signature Farms Brand Garden Salad are a likely source of this outbreak.

Bagged salad mixes from ALDI, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco do not explain all of the illnesses in this outbreak. CDC and FDA continue to investigate to determine whether other products are a source of illnesses in this outbreak.

On June 20, 2020, Hy-Vee and Jewel-Osco issued recalls for bagged salad products sold in several Midwestern states. Hy-Vee recalled Hy-Vee brand 12-ounce bagged Garden Salad produced by Fresh Express. This product was sold in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Jewel-Osco, in cooperation with Fresh Express, recalled Signature Farms brand 12-ounce bagged Garden Salad sold in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa. On June 22, 2020, ALDI recalled 12-ounce bagged Little Salad Bar Garden Salad sold in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

As of June 22, 2020, a total of 122 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections associated with this outbreak have been reported from 7 states: Illinois (30), Iowa (54), Kansas (1), Minnesota (13), Missouri (7) Nebraska (8), and Wisconsin (9).
Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 11, 2020 to June 15, 2020. Ill people range in age from 16 to 92 years with a median age of 63 and 45% are female. Of 118 people with available information, 19 people (16%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Illnesses might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. This takes an average of 4 to 6 weeks.

There are typically multiple clusters of Cyclospora infections that occur each summer. The CDC says it is working to determine if other recent cases of Cyclospora infection are linked to contaminated ingredients in these bagged salad mixes.

Source: CDC