A certain type of Mexican basil is being recalled over suspicions it may be connected to a Cyclospora outbreak.
Are you a fan of basil? If so, did you know a recall is currently being facilitated over concerns a certain type of basil may be the source of a “multi-state outbreak of 132 Cyclospora illnesses?” According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Mexican basil served in Mexican restaurants throughout four states has sickened more than 100 people. The affected basil is from Siga Logistics de RL de CV, Morelos, Mexico.
Since the FDA began suspecting that the particular type of basil is the source of the outbreak, it is urging consumers to avoid eating it and instructing “restaurants, retailers, distributors, importers, and suppliers not to sell or serve its basil.” If these entities aren’t sure the source of their basil, they “should not sell, serve or distribute the fresh imported basil,” according to the notice issued on July 25. The notice further stated:
“As this outbreak investigation continues, the FDA will work with our Mexican food safety regulatory counterparts to better define the cause and source of this outbreak.”
The FDA also notes the four states included in the recall are Florida, Ohio, New York, and Minnesota. However, the names of the restaurants that may have served the contaminated basil have the to be released and it is not yet known whether any of the restaurants belong to a chain.
The 132 individuals affected by the outbreak herald from a variety of states, including Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, according to the FDA. So far, four of those people have been hospitalized. Reports of illnesses began rolling in back on June 14, and some of the most recent cases were reported on July 9.
Unsure what Cyclospora illness is? For starters, it’s a parasitic infection that attacks the intestines. Symptoms typically include weight loss, cramps, nausea, and bloating, among others.
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