Salad Sales OF McDonald’s CEASE

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Tainted salads at approximately 3000 McDonald’s restaurants across several states has attributed to numerous people becoming ill. Sources report that the illnesses were linked to restaurants in states including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Kentucky, West Virginia and Missouri.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, a parasite found in the lettuce of salads sold at McDonald’s attributed to the outbreak. The Cyclospora-Parasite is transmitted in foods contaminated with fecal matter. Once ingested, Cyclosporiasis may cause symptoms including abdominal pains, cramping, diarrhea and fatigue. In many instances these symptoms may be delayed, occurring as much as up to a week later or longer, depending on the individual.

According to McDonald’s sources, the illnesses are due to contaminated lettuce from one of the company’s suppliers in Streamwood Illinois. McDonald’s is cooperating with the FDA and has ceased sales of salads at locations predominately in the Midwest, as well restaurants linked to the outbreak located in other areas.

The FDA reports that because of the outbreak, 61 people were infected in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

The effects of Cyclosporiasis may vary with some patients before experiencing symptoms.  

This is a concern, in that removing the contaminated lettuce provides no assurance that there will not be subsequent instances of others becoming ill.

The Food and Drug Administration is currently investigating and working with McDonald’s to possibly determine which additives or ingredients could have attributed to the outbreak.