Wisconsin Ag Connection - More Confirmed Parasites Linked to Del Monte Veggies

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More Confirmed Parasites Linked to Del Monte Veggies
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 07/10/2018

Public health officials have confirmed that dozens of more people have parasitic infections linked to trays of fresh, pre-cut vegetables that Del Monte Fresh Produce recalled in mid-June. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported there were 212 cases of the infection, cyclosporiasis, in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin as of late last week.

Additional people are likely to be added to the CDC's case count. It usually takes 2 to 14 days after a person ingests the Cyclospora parasite for symptoms to develop. Specialized lab tests are required to confirm cyclosporiasis. Lab results must be confirmed and then reported to state officials who send reports to the CDC.

"Illnesses that began after May 17 might not have been reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported," according to the CDC's outbreak update. The CDC's initial outbreak report and both since then have reported that most of the infected people said they ate items from Del Monte fresh vegetable trays.

Del Monte has recalled 6-ounce, 12-ounce, and 28-ounce vegetable trays containing pre-cut fresh broccoli, cauliflower, celery sticks, carrots and dill dip. Recalled products were sold in clear, plastic clamshell containers. All of the recalled products had best-by dates of June 17 or before.

The multi-national produce company reported it distributed the recalled products to a number of retailers, including Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Demond's, Sentry, Potash, Meehan's, Country Market, FoodMax Supermarket, and Peapod. The CDC continues to urge consumers to check their homes for unused portions of the recalled products and to discard them immediately.

State and federal officials continue to investigate the outbreak, but they have not yet determined the source of the parasites.

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