Outbreak Summary
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UPDATE — June 30, 2021 — OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers are currently investigating another outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses possibly tied to bagged salads. If you have recently become sick with Cyclospora, please contact us right away about pursuing compensation.
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OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers have been retained by dozens of people sickened in a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections that CDC has linked to bagged salads purchased at several grocery store chains—Walmart, Aldi, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco—in the Midwest. According to reports, all the products were manufactured by Fresh Express, Inc.
On June 22, OFT filed the first lawsuits on behalf of over 75 clients who ate the bagged salad from ALDI and later became seriously ill with severe Cyclospora symptoms. Fresh Express Inc. and Aldi Inc. are named in the lawsuits.
This outbreak is now over. But please contact us using the form above if were sickened in this outbreak, or any other Cyclospora outbreak. We continue to represent many people who were affected, and have already obtained fair compensation for dozens of clients.
More Details
CDC and public health authorities in several states have identified an outbreak of Cyclospora infections that they have traced to consumption of bagged salad mix purchased at Walmart, ALDI, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco stores in Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. As of August 14th, at least 701 people have been sickened in at least 14 states:
Consumers who have ALDI Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salad, Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salad, or Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Garden Salad purchased at ALDI, Hy-Vee, and Jewel-Osco stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, and Nebraska in their homes should throw it away even if some has been eaten and no one has gotten sick.
Do not eat salads or other dishes that include ALDI Little Salad Bar Brand Garden Salad, Hy-Vee Brand Garden Salad, or Jewel-Osco Signature Farms Garden Salad. It is believed that these products are private-label versions of bagged salads manufactured and distributed by Fresh Express, Inc.
UPDATE: On Friday, June 26th, the CDC expanded the outbreak to include Classic Iceberg Salad bags, both 12- and 24-ounce bags, sold at Walmart in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Six people were sickened at a single North Dakota restaurant that used the Iceberg bagged salad mix from Walmart. Fresh Express has recalled these salads.
OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers attorneys Ryan Osterholm and Lindsay Lien Rinholen have represented hundreds of individuals sickened by Cyclospora in multiple outbreaks, including outbreaks involving contaminated produce.
On June 22, OFT filed two lawsuits against Aldi Inc. arising out of this Cyclospora outbreak: one in Cook County, Illinois (Case No. 2020-L-6616) and one in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (Case No. 20-cv-1429). Fresh Express Inc., the manufacturer and supplier of salad products, has also been named in the Minnesota case.
Attorney Osterholm says that the outbreak shows that the fresh produce industry has not solved its Cyclospora problem. “Every year, like clockwork, we see a dangerous parasite in our fresh produce. It is long past time the industry takes decisive action to prevent it.”
OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers have been retained by dozens of people sickened in this ongoing outbreak, including clients in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri.
On June 22, ALDI, Hy-Vee Jewel-Osco voluntarily recalled their versions of the implicated “garden salad” product. It appears all these products are manufactured and supplied by Fresh Express, Inc. OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers have extensive experience dealing with outbreaks tied back to produce distributed by Fresh Express, Inc.
Not all known cases have been linked to these stores, so it is likely that other products and other stores are implicated. The FDA later advised consumers not to eat Fresh Express products made at the Streamwood, Illinois, facility that contained iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, or carrots. These products could be identified by a product code beginning with “Z.”
Examples of recalled packaging include:
The food poisoning lawyers at OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers focus on providing legal guidance to individuals who have become ill due to foodborne illnesses, such as Cyclospora. They work with experts who understand the medical and scientific needs of clients who have suffered from infections.
When you begin working with our attorneys, we will immediately help you obtain the medical treatment you need to become well and support your case. We will gather the information necessary to prove that others are responsible for your illness. With this information, we will hold accountable those who have been negligent by supplying dangerous food to you and others.
Cyclospora is a parasite that is transmitted to people who contact object contaminated with infected stool, including water, fruits, and vegetables that have not been properly washed.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical treatment immediately.
OFT Food Safety & Injury Lawyers is a national law firm that focuses on food safety and protection of those who have been infected. We have experience with all types of outbreaks, including Cyclospora. We offer free consultations to anybody potentially impacted by a food poisoning outbreak.
Call us today at (888) 828-7087 or use our online contact form.