FDA links stomach bug in 2 states to Mexican farm

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By MARY CLARE JALONICK

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration says an outbreak of stomach illnesses in Iowa and Nebraska is linked to salad mix served at Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants in those states and supplied by a Mexican farm.

The outbreak of cyclospora infections has sickened more than 400 people in 16 states in all. The agency says it is working to determine whether the salad mix is the source of illnesses in the other 14 states.

"It is not yet clear whether the cases reported from other states are all part of the same outbreak," the agency said in a statement. "The investigation of increased cases of cyclosporiasis in other states continues."

Both Olive Garden and Red Lobster are owned by Orlando-based Darden Restaurants. In a statement, Darden spokesman Mike Bernstein said the FDA's announcement is "new information."

FULL story at link.



Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130802/DA7U3JRG1.html

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Graphic identifies the states where cases of cyclospora infection have been reported to the CDC; 1c x 6 inches; 46.5 mm x 152 mm;

[Auggie]

1. That's one nasty bug

[rurallib]

2. Olive Garden and red lobster are having a bad year.

[benld74]

3. Wait, I thought it was salad mix from grocery stores, wrong am I?

[murielm99]

10. I thought so, too.

I thought it was in Northern Illinois and Indiana grocery stores. Is this a different outbreak?

When we get that pre-packaged salad mix from the grocery store, it is supposed to be ready to eat. I don't believe it. I wash and dry it anyway.

I am more comfortable buying my own salad ingredients, washing, cutting and mixing them myself. But with only two of us, sometimes only one, that makes a lot of salad. We don't need that much. It goes to waste.

[Harmony Blue]

4. Why would you want salad mix from Mexico?

Nevermind that is Red Lobster and Olive Garden where you overpay for ordinary food haha.

[wordpix]

5. b/c Americans love eating foods out of season

If you're eating local on the E. Coast now, lettuce is long gone and it's tomato, cuke, pepper and corn season. But most people are so far away from their agricultural roots, they don't know.

[KittyWampus]

11. I'm on the east coast and my lettuce is doing well… in the shade. :)

I have lots of varieties some that are very slow bolting.

[Posteritatis]

9. Cost, out-of-season issues, someone might like some region-specific produce.. (nt)

[Sunlei]

6. Olive Garden and Red Lobster. reported cases are from Doctor visits.

wonder how many thousands got sick and self treated at home. not everyone who has an upset tummy runs to a Doctor.

Restaurants should not cut corners and buy salad mix off farms that don't even have restrooms for workers.

Make their own salads in a hopefully clean inspected kitchen.

[MrsBrady]

7. somebody ought to post this in the lounge too n/t

[valerief]

8. Exceptional food safety record? Yeah, except when it doesn't.

In a statement on the company's website, Taylor Farms says the Mexican facility is "state of the art and has an exceptional food safety record."