Salads and Wraps Sold at Kroger and Trader Joes May Have Been Contaminated By a Parasite
Salads and wraps sold at major grocery chains may have been contaminated by an infectious parasite, according to a public health alert. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service FSIS warned consumers on Monday to stay away from certain beef, pork and poultry salads and wraps sold at stores including Kroger, Trader Joe's, Gordon Food Service and Walgreen's. Romaine lettuce used in these products may have been tainted by Cyclospora, a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness, according to FSIS. The salads and wraps in question were produced by Indianapolis-based Caito Foods LLC between July 15 and 18, and labeled for consumption by dates between July 18 and 23. Some chopped romaine used by Caito Foods and supplied by Fresh Express has been recalled over feared Cyclospora contamination, according to the Food Safety and Inspection Service statement. In a statement given to TIME, a representative from Caito Foods said the company only learned of the romaine recall after the lettuce, and the products it was used in, were past their best-by dates. "Out of an abundance of caution we notified our distribution customers to ensure the potentially affected products were no longer being offered for sale," the statement says. "Caito Foods takes food safety seriously and we are working closely with both the USDA and FDA on this matter.", Representatives from Kroger, Gordon Food Service and Chiquita Brands, Fresh Express' parent company, did not immediately respond to TIME's requests for comment. In a statement, Trader Joe's said no illnesses have been reported in connection with its products, and specified that they were sold only in Midwest stores. A Walgreens spokesperson told TIME that affected products were available only at a "limited number" of stores in Illinois, and were immediately pulled from store shelves upon learning of the recall. FSIS is urging consumers to throw away and avoid eating any of the potentially affected salads and wraps, which it is working with Caito to remove from store shelves. Cyclospora can have an incubation period of up to two weeks, so illnesses could surface up until Aug. 6, according to Food Safety and Inspection Service. Cyclosporiasis, the illness caused by Cyclospora exposure, typically includes symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping, bloating, nausea, fatigue, weight loss and appetite loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is not typically life-threatening, but symptoms can last a month or more. Salad mixes supplied by Fresh Express were also implicated in a Cyclospora outbreak stemming from McDonald's salads, the Food and Drug Administration confirmed.