United States: In the latest update, Trader Joe’s has recalled those packaged herbs that were associated with a recent multistate salmonella outbreak, as per the announcement made by the grocery chain this week.
Between February 1 and April 6, the product called Infinite Herbs Organic Basil was sold in 2.5-ounce clamshell containers in a total of 29 states, not excluding Washington D.C., as per Trader Joe’s Wednesday statement.
Federal officials statements
According to federal official report, more than 12 reports were noted in around seven states, linked to infection among people of Salmonella, a kind of organism that causes fatal infection. Moreover, a case of one infected person’s hospitalization also reported.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated, “Seven of eight cases with information available reported exposure to fresh organic basil purchased from Trader Joe’s before becoming ill,” and, “traceback data” it had collected determined that Florida-based Infinite Herbs, LLC, had supplied the basil to Trader Joe’s.
Additionally, Grego Berliavsky, the head of Infinite Herbs, said that the company had voluntarily recalled the product as of Wednesday.
He added, “I am heartbroken at the thought that any item we sold may have caused illness or discomfort,” and, “We simply will not rest until we can once again be confident in the safety of this product.”
He added further, “Fresh basil naturally wilts and expires after five to seven days, so we are confident that the recalled basil is no longer available for sale,” as NBC News reported
“However, if you have food in your freezer that includes Infinite Herbs organic basil purchased between February 1 and April 6, do not consume it,” Berliavsky said.
He even mentioned that basil had been sourced from a singleton farm, which is, however, no longer in production. He stated, “We are working with the farmer to conduct an internal investigation of the food safety practices. Through this investigation, our goal is to determine the cause of this recall and apply measures to prevent it from happening again.”
What are the salmonella symtoms?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common symptoms of Salmonella are diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps.
Usually, the symptoms become visible after an hour to six days period, where most recover within a span of a week without the need for antibiotics, while some may need medical attention.
Moreover, the vulnerable, such as children younger of less than five years of age and adults 65 and older, are more likely to have serious infections.
Furthermore, as per the CDC reports, people showing symptoms of serious case diarrhea, bloody stools, a fever higher than 102 degrees, or prolonged vomiting may need antibiotics or to be hospitalized.
Case of Salmonella in the US
As the CDC data suggests, more than 1.35 million infections of Salmonella, where 26,500 are hospitalization cases, along with 420 deaths per year in the US.
However, the official statistics is most sure an underestimate as the people usually recover without any treating or any confirmed diagnosis, said Barbara Kowalcyk, an associate professor of exercise and nutrition sciences at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
According to NBC News reports, infections are the result of a number of undesirable sources, which include the consumption of contaminated food and water and touching infected animals and their environment.
There is a small chance that salmonella microbe in some cases or its toxin might pass the gut into the blood, which causes severe disease or death or long-term health disorders such as arthritis, Kowalcyk pointed out.
Infections come from a variety of sources, including consuming contaminated food and water or touching infected animals and their environments.
In rare cases, Salmonella or its toxins can enter the bloodstream, causing serious illnesses, death, or long-term conditions like arthritis, Kowalcyk said.
She said, “One of the things in food safety that we try to do is make people aware that it’s not just this bad tummy ache,” and, There are other health implications.”