McDonald's Pulls Salads After Reports of Consumers Infected with Food Poisoning

July 17, 2018 - By Timothy Tomasik and Lindsay Proskey

For the second time this year, health investigators warn consumers to avoid fecal contaminated produce containing the parasite cyclospora. This outbreak has sickened at least 90 Illinois residents and resulted in McDonald’s voluntary removal of salads from 3,000 restaurants in 14 Midwestern states. Health officials have also linked 227 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclospora to pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays. Del Monte recalled their vegetable trays sold in Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Demond’s, Sentry, Potash, Meehan’s, Country Market, FoodMax Supermarket, and Peapod stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

The Parasitic Infection

Cyclospora is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis. Symptoms appear approximately one to two weeks after consumption of the parasite and can include vomiting, explosive diarrhea, muscle aches, nausea, low-grade fever, fatigue, bloating, increased gas, stomach cramps, loss of appetite, and weight loss. If left untreated, symptoms can last from a few days up to six weeks and may recur one or more times. In addition, consumers who have previously been infected with Cyclospora can become infected again.

Tim Tomasik of Tomasik Kotin Kasserman represents loved ones and children that are poisoned as the result of the negligent sale and preparation of food products to the public, and he has successfully prosecuted food poisoning cases on behalf of victims. For more information about our work in this area, please call the law offices of TKK at 312-605-8800 or contact us online.