Parasite Sickens Dozens Who Ate McDonald's Salads

The contamination has so far spread to six states
By Josh Gardner,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 14, 2018 7:30 AM CDT
Tainted McDonald's Salad Sicken Dozens in 6 States
A Feb. 15, 2018, file photo shows a McDonald's Restaurant in Mississippi.   (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

A multi-state outbreak of a non-fatal, but nasty, infection has sickened at least dozens and has been traced to McDonald's. The chain has yanked salads from its menu in some 3,000 locations after customers in six states became ill with a parasite called cyclospora. Per USA Today, McDonald's says it made the move "out of an abundance of caution" and that salads will not be served until the company is able to find an alternate supplier for its salad mixes. "McDonald’s is committed to the highest standards of food safety and quality control," the company said in a statement. "We are closely monitoring this situation and cooperating with state and federal public health authorities as they further investigate."

The AP reports that about 100 people have fallen ill with apparent cyclosporiasis, which typically causes watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue, and other symptoms. The bulk of the cases have thus far been reported in Illinois and Iowa. Health officials have also reported cases in Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The halt on salad sales has been implemented in those states, as well as at stores in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, North Dakota, Montana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Missouri. Cyclospora infection can effectively be treated with antibiotics. (More cyclospora stories.)

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