Since mid-May 2018, salads from McDonald’s have been linked to illnesses in the following states: South Dakota (2), Nebraska (2), Wisconsin (2), Minnesota (3), Missouri (7), Iowa (16) and Illinois (29).
Two of the victims were hospitalized with severe food poisoning.
McDonald’s has pulled salads off the menu at 3,000 stores in 14 states due to the risk of food poisoning, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
The FDA does not believe the outbreak is related to another ongoing outbreak of Cyclospora illnesses linked to Del Monte vegetable trays.
Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that can cause months of watery diarrhea and dehydration without treatment. Diagnosis requires special laboratory tests and multiple stool samples over 3 weeks.
The symptoms of infection may include:
- Watery diarrhea (most common)
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Cramping
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Low-grade fever
