Tainted McDonald’s salads have sickened 163 people across 10 states, and three of those people have been hospitalized, according to an update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The illnesses began on or after May 1, 2018, and the people range in age from 16 to 87 years old, the CDC says.
On July 13, The number of cases surged to 61 people in seven states, including 29 in Illinois, 16 in Iowa, seven in Missouri, three in Minnesota, two Nebraska, two in South Dakota, and two in Wisconsin, said the health agency.
No deaths have been reported.
In a statement, McDonald’s said it won’t be selling the salads in light of the outbreak.
The company said it’s “committed to the highest standards of food safety and quality and we continue to cooperate and support regulatory and public health officials in their investigations.”
On July 13, McDonald’s said it had identified the lettuce blend that was found to be contaminated. “We have removed existing lettuce blend from identified restaurants and distribution centers ... which includes approximately 3,000 of our U.S. restaurants primarily located in the Midwest,” it said.
According to the agency, “The time between becoming infected and becoming sick is usually about 1 week. Cyclospora infects the small intestine (bowel) and usually causes watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements. Other common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach cramps/pain, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Vomiting, body aches, headache, fever, and other flu-like symptoms may be noted. Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms.”
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